criminology

noun

crim·​i·​nol·​o·​gy ˌkri-mə-ˈnä-lə-jē How to pronounce criminology (audio)
: the scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon, of criminals, and of penal treatment
criminological adjective
criminologically adverb
criminologist noun

Did you know?

Criminology includes the study of all aspects of crime and law enforcement—criminal psychology, the social setting of crime, prohibition and prevention, investigation and detection, capture and punishment. Thus, many of the people involved—legislators, social workers, probation officers, judges, etc.—could possibly be considered criminologists, though the word usually refers only to scholars and researchers.

Examples of criminology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But Ainsley cannot deny her first love is crime solving and accepts a position teaching a criminology class at the local community college. Emily Longeretta, Variety, 27 Feb. 2024 The 28-year-old was arrested last December at his family's home in Pennsylvania, after finishing his first semester as a Ph.D. candidate in criminology. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 24 Dec. 2023 Why the first 72 hours in a missing persons investigation are the most critical, according to criminology experts Police are urging anyone with information on his whereabouts to call 911. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2023 Lorie Fridell, professor emerita of criminology at the University of South Florida, said the blend could work well since memories are imperfect, but cameras don't always capture every angle and nuance, either. Lindsay Whitehurst The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 24 Dec. 2023 According to The Santa Barbara Independent, Misha came up with the idea while working as a bartender, and Myers joined her in California after finishing her master’s degree in forensic criminology to pursue the venture. Emily Krauser, Peoplemag, 28 Nov. 2023 But that part of the initiative will probably be met by legal challenges, says Elliot Doornbos, a senior lecturer in criminology at Nottingham Trent University, UK. Nature Magazine, Scientific American, 13 Nov. 2023 How the data is collected and counted Reporters at USA Today started collecting the data in 2011 and turned the project over in 2016 to a research team run by James Alan Fox, a professor of criminology, law and public policy at Northeastern University. John D. Harden, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2023 Nijinsky Dix was a doctoral student in criminology, law and justice at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'criminology.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin crīmin-, crīmen "accusation, crime" + -o- + -logy

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of criminology was in 1872

Dictionary Entries Near criminology

Cite this Entry

“Criminology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminology. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

criminology

noun
crim·​i·​nol·​o·​gy ˌkrim-ə-ˈnäl-ə-jē How to pronounce criminology (audio)
: a scientific study of crime, of criminals, and of their punishment or correction
criminological adjective
criminologist noun

Medical Definition

criminology

noun
crim·​i·​nol·​o·​gy ˌkrim-ə-ˈnäl-ə-jē How to pronounce criminology (audio)
plural criminologies
: the scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon, of criminals, and of penal treatment
criminological adjective
criminologically adverb
criminologist noun

Legal Definition

criminology

noun
crim·​i·​nol·​o·​gy ˌkri-mə-ˈnä-lə-jē How to pronounce criminology (audio)
: the scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon, of criminals, and of penal treatment
criminological adjective
criminologically adverb
criminologist noun

More from Merriam-Webster on criminology

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