---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 1093"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "1093"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/1093"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 50A — Genocide"
---

# §1093. Definitions


As used in this chapter—

- (1) the term “children” means the plural and means individuals who have not attained the age of eighteen years;
- (2) the term “ethnic group” means a set of individuals whose identity as such is distinctive in terms of common cultural traditions or heritage;
- (3) the term “incites” means urges another to engage imminently in conduct in circumstances under which there is a substantial likelihood of imminently causing such conduct;
- (4) the term “members” means the plural;
- (5) the term “national group” means a set of individuals whose identity as such is distinctive in terms of nationality or national origins;
- (6) the term “racial group” means a set of individuals whose identity as such is distinctive in terms of physical characteristics or biological descent;
- (7) the term “religious group” means a set of individuals whose identity as such is distinctive in terms of common religious creed, beliefs, doctrines, practices, or rituals; and
- (8) the term “substantial part” means a part of a group of such numerical significance that the destruction or loss of that part would cause the destruction of the group as a viable entity within the nation of which such group is a part.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 100–606, § 2(a), Nov. 4, 1988, 102 Stat. 3046.)