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crime
[ krahym ]
noun
- an action or an instance of negligence that is deemed injurious to the public welfare or morals or to the interests of the state and that is legally prohibited.
Synonyms: felony, tort, misdemeanor, wrong
- criminal activity and those engaged in it:
to fight crime.
- the habitual or frequent commission of crimes:
a life of crime.
- any offense, serious wrongdoing, or sin.
- a foolish, senseless, or shameful act:
It's a crime to let that beautiful garden go to ruin.
crime
/ kraɪm /
noun
- an act or omission prohibited and punished by law
- unlawful acts in general
a wave of crime
- ( as modifier )
crime wave
- an evil act
- informal.something to be regretted
it is a crime that he died young
Other Words From
- crimeless adjective
- crimeless·ness noun
- anti·crime adjective
- super·crime noun
Word History and Origins
Origin of crime1
Word History and Origins
Origin of crime1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
The British actor wrote and stars in Netflix’s new limited series, shot as a series of oners, that captures the aftermath of a child’s violent crime.
Living in the U.S. without lawful status is a civil offense, not a crime.
In 2004, the pair were found guilty of a series of offences linked to organised crime, though they were released the following year due to an administrative error, according to the French media.
But according to the Rome Statute that is the basis for the ICC, the court maintains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed before a nation leaves the tribunal.
Mitchell said she takes “full responsibility” for her crime and called her time in custody “a blessing” that helped her become sober and set her on a better path in life.
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Related Words
About This Word
What is a crime?
A crime is an act or instance that is considered to be against the morals or laws of society, as in Burglary and grand theft auto are crimes.
A person could also be said to have committed a crime against nature or a crime against humanity if they performed especially offensive or taboo acts.
A crime can also mean illegal activity in general or a frequent committing of such activity, as in The superhero was dedicated to fighting crime.
Crime can also mean a repeated or frequent performing of illegal acts, as in The mobsters lived a life of crime.
And crime can be used more generally to refer to any offense or sin, as in The man swore his neighbor would pay for his crime of letting his dogs waltz through his yard.
Informally, crime can be used to mean a regrettable thing, as in It is a crime that the musician died so young.
The word criminal can be used to mean both a person who commits crime as well as an adjective for things related to crime.
Example: Publishing someone’s words as your own is a crime.
Where does crime come from?
The first records of crime come from around 1200. It ultimately comes from the Latin crīmin-, a stem of crīmen, which means “charge” or “crime.” Crime was as much a problem for the ancient Romans as it is for us today.
Crime exists in every society and probably goes back to primitive humans. It is almost always the job of a justice system to prevent crime or punish those responsible for it. Today, in many societies people who commit crimes are fined, imprisoned, or given even harsher punishments.
There is a lot of debate about the best way to handle crime. In popular culture, it’s common to depict societies that have no crime, such as through the use of technology or harsh methods.
Did you know … ?
What are some other forms related to crime?
- crimeless (adjective)
- crimelessness (noun)
- anticrime (adjective)
- supercrime (noun)
What are some synonyms for crime?
What are some words that share a root or word element with crime?
What are some words that often get used in discussing crime?
How is crime used in real life?
While the vast majority of people are against crime, people often disagree on what should or shouldn’t be considered a crime.
If you win the Powerball now you pretty much have an obligation to become a superhero. Batman, Iron Man, doesn't matter, fight crime
— Hayes Brown (@HayesBrown) January 10, 2016
Birmingham-based @ErdingtonRugby crowned Gallacher Rugby Club of the Season. Praised for using rugby to prevent crime and as a tool to offer hot meals to kids who would not otherwise get them.
— Alex Spink (@alexspinkmirror) October 9, 2020
It should be a crime to charge people $1700 a month to rent, with a $600 pet deposit per pet, and a monthly pet fee of $50 per pet.
— Bex 🌈 (@BEXasaurusrexx) October 11, 2020
Try using crime!
Which of the following is a synonym of crime?
A. justice
B. accident
C. felony
D. carelessness
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