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

Andrew Truelove, 41, was charged with hate crimes burglary and menacing, as well as criminal trespass and harassment after allegedly swinging at Melvin Thursday morning. — Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 20 July 2026

Raj steals Shah’s story about his family experiencing a hate crime and uses it as a way to become more respected and popular. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 July 2026

He was charged with two felonies — burglary in the third degree as a hate crime, and menacing in the third degree as a hate crime, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said Friday, July 17. — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026

In 2022, that person was charged with committing a hate crime against his neighbors in Bellingham, Washington. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 17 July 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