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-nəl-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

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