criminologic

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

crim•i•nol•o•gy /ˌkrɪməˈnɑlədʒi/   n. [uncountable]

1. Sociology the study of crime and criminals and their effects on society.

crim•i•no•log•i•cal /ˌkrɪmənəˈlɑdʒɪkəl/  adj. 
crim•i•no•log•i•cal•ly, adv. 
crim•i•nol•o•gist, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

crim•i•nol•o•gy  (krim′ə nol′ə jē), n. 

1. Sociology the study of crime and criminals: a branch of sociology.

• Latin crīmin- (stem of crīmen; see crime) + -o- + -logy
• 1855–60;

crim•i•no•log•i•cal  (krim′ə nl oj′i kəl), crim′i•no•log′ic, adj.  crim′i•no•log′i•cal•ly, adv. 
crim′i•nol′o•gist, n.