Crime

/kraɪm/

Meaning & Definition

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

Slang Meanings

Capers
The group was known for their wild capers around the city.
Heist
They planned an elaborate heist to steal the diamond.
Shenanigans
All that shenanigans led to their arrest.