1
: an illegal act for which someone can be punished by the government
especially
: a gross violation of law
2
: a grave offense especially against morality
3
: criminal activity
efforts to fight crime
4
: something reprehensible, foolish, or disgraceful
It's a crime to waste good food.
Examples of crime in a Sentence
She paid dearly for her crimes.
evidence that helped them solve the crime
He was punished for a crime that he didn't commit.
the recent increase in violent crime
Being single is not a crime.
There's no greater crime than forgetting your anniversary.
Recent Examples on the Web
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—
Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 13 Nov. 2024
Despite having written a diverse range of books over the years, from a mediaeval crime story to a powerful tale about Alzheimer's, Harvey hasn't received much recognition.
—Irenie Forshaw, The Week Uk, theweek, 13 Nov. 2024
In June, China unveiled new legal guidelines meant to target Taiwan independence activists; these crimes, some punishable by death, include promoting Taiwan’s inclusion in international organizations for which statehood is a requirement.
—David Sacks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
The chaotic summer of George Floyd protests, violent crime, and COVID-19 lockdowns are increasingly associated with the Left, even if Trump was president at the time.
—W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for crime 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 13 Nov. 2024
Despite having written a diverse range of books over the years, from a mediaeval crime story to a powerful tale about Alzheimer's, Harvey hasn't received much recognition.
—Irenie Forshaw, The Week Uk, theweek, 13 Nov. 2024
In June, China unveiled new legal guidelines meant to target Taiwan independence activists; these crimes, some punishable by death, include promoting Taiwan’s inclusion in international organizations for which statehood is a requirement.
—David Sacks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
The chaotic summer of George Floyd protests, violent crime, and COVID-19 lockdowns are increasingly associated with the Left, even if Trump was president at the time.
—W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for crime
Dictionary Entries Near crime
Cite this Entry
“Crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crime. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
crime
noun1
: the doing of an act forbidden by law or the failure to do an act required by law especially when serious
2
: criminal activity
the war on crime
3
: an act that is sinful, foolish, or disgraceful
it's a crime to waste good food
Legal Definition
crime
noun1
2
: an offense against public law usually excluding a petty violation see also felony, misdemeanor
Note: Crimes in the common-law tradition were originally defined primarily by judicial decision. For the most part, common-law crimes are now codified. There is a general principle “nullum crimen sine lege,” that there can be no crime without a law. A crime generally consists of both conduct, known as the actus reus, and a concurrent state of mind, known as the mens rea.
3
: criminal activity
Etymology
Middle French, from Latin crimen fault, accusation, crime
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