Main Entry: crim·i·nol·o·gy

Pronunciation: \ˌkri-mə-ˈnä-lə-jē\

Function: noun

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

Date: 1882

: 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