hate crime

noun

: any of various crimes (such as assault or defacement of property) when motivated by hostility to the victim as a member of a group (such as one based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability)

Examples of hate crime in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And spending $35 million to eliminate hate crimes. —Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026

If convicted, Pittman faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison for the federal charges, while the state charges hold five to 60 years in prison, enhanced with a hate crime charge. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Jan. 2026

According to PeerK12, 2a alleged that the incident was a hate crime, but the district did not find evidence to support the charge. —Marsha Sutton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026

He was also indicted on a state charge of first-degree arson of a place of worship with a hate crime enhancement, according to a statement obtained by Mississippi Free Press. —Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 17 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hate crime

• aforetime
• allozyme
• anytime
• christmastime
• cybercrime
• dinnertime
• guggenheim
• isozyme
• lysozyme
• maritime
• mesenchyme
• overtime

Kids Definition

hate crime

noun

plural hate crimes

: any of various crimes (as assault) when motivated by hostility to the victim based on social characteristics (as color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin)

Legal Definition

hate crime

noun

: a crime that violates the victim's civil rights and that is motivated by hostility to the victim's race, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender