crime

UK: /ˈkraɪm/ US: /kraɪm/ ,(krīm)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

crime /kraɪm/   n. 

1. Law an action considered harmful to the public good and legally prohibited:
   [countable] He had committed several crimes: murder, burglary, and rape.
2. the activity of such wrongdoing, or those performing it:
   [uncountable] a new program to fight crime in the city; the head of organized crime.
3. any serious wrongdoing:
   [countable] crimes against humanity.
4. [countable] a foolish act or practice:
   It's a crime to let that beautiful garden go to ruin.

Synonyms

crime, offense, sin agree in referring to a breaking of law. crime usually refers to any serious breaking of a public law: the crime of treason. offense is used of a less serious violation of a public law, or of a violation of a social or moral rule: a traffic offense; an offense against propriety. sin means a breaking of a moral or divine law: the sin of envy.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

crime  (krīm), n. 

1. Law 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.
2. criminal activity and those engaged in it:
   to fight crime.
3. the habitual or frequent commission of crimes:
   a life of crime.
4. any offense, serious wrongdoing, or sin.
5. a foolish, senseless, or shameful act:
   It's a crime to let that beautiful garden go to ruin.

• Latin crīmin- (stem of crīmen) charge, crime
• Anglo-French, Old French
• Middle English 1200–50

crime′less, adj. 
crime′less•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. wrong; misdemeanor, tort, felony.
• 1, 4. Crime, offense, sin agree in meaning a breaking of law.
  Crime usually means any serious violation of human laws:
  the crime of treason or robbery.
  Offense is used of an infraction of either human or divine law, and does not necessarily mean a serious one:
  an offense leading to a jail sentence; an offense against morals.
  Sin means a breaking of moral or divine law:
  the sins of greed and lust.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

crime / kraɪm/ noun

1. an act or omission prohibited and punished by law
2. unlawful acts in general
3. an evil act
4. something to be regretted

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French, from Latin crīmen verdict, accusation, crime