criminology

crim·i·nol·o·gy

noun \ˌkri-mə-ˈnä-lə-jē\

Definition of CRIMINOLOGY

: the scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon, of criminals, and of penal treatment

— crim·i·no·log·i·cal \-mə-n^əl-ˈä-ji-kəl\ adjective

— crim·i·no·log·i·cal·ly \-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— crim·i·nol·o·gist \ˌkri-mə-ˈnä-lə-jist\ noun

Origin of CRIMINOLOGY

Italian criminologia, from Latin crimin-, crimen + Italian -o- + -logia -logy

First Known Use: 1882

Rhymes with CRIMINOLOGY

cosmetology, etymology, genealogy, martyrology, phraseology, radiology