Meaning & Definition of word "Crime"

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    Crime

    /kraɪm/

    noun:

    • 1. An act committed in violation of a law prohibiting it and for which a punishment has been prescribed by a governing authority.
      • Example: The rise in organized crime has led to increased law enforcement efforts.
    • 2. A serious offense punishable by law.
      • Example: Murder is considered a heinous crime in every society.
    • 3. An act that is wrong or immoral.
      • Example: He believed that betraying a friend was a crime against trust.
    • 4. Any violation of law or the public welfare.
      • Example: The police were called to investigate the crime of vandalism.
    • 5. The totality of the offenses committed within a specific jurisdiction.
      • Example: The city reported a decrease in crime rates over the past year.

    Etymology

    From Old French 'crimne', derived from Latin 'crimen', meaning 'charge, accusation'.

    Common Phrases and Expressions

    white-collar crime:

    Financially motivated, nonviolent crime committed by business and government professionals.

    hate crime:

    A crime motivated by prejudice or intolerance towards a person's identity.

    war crime:

    An act that constitutes a serious violation of the laws and customs of war.

    Related Words

    criminal:

    A person who commits a crime.

    punishment:

    The penalty inflicted for committing a crime.

    law:

    A system of rules that a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members.

    Slang Meanings of crime

    Meaning: Capers

    Example Sentence: The group was known for their wild capers around the city.

    Meaning: Heist

    Example Sentence: They planned an elaborate heist to steal the diamond.

    Meaning: Shenanigans

    Example Sentence: All that shenanigans led to their arrest.