Entry Word: crime

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 activities that are in violation of the laws of the state <a promise by the president to step up the war against crime>

Synonyms criminality, lawbreaking, lawlessness

Related Words malfeasance, misconduct; wrongdoing; evil, immorality, sin, wickedness; corruption, depravity; malefaction, misdeed, misdoing, offense (or offence), transgression, trespass

2 a regrettable or blameworthy act <itʼs a crime to waste food, so give the rest of the pizza to me>

Synonyms disgrace, pity, shame, sin

Related Words outrage, scandal

3 a breaking of a moral or legal code <anyone who commits a crime can expect to go to jail> — see offense 1
4 a cause of shame <her only crime was saying the wrong thing at the wrong time> — see disgrace 2