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Criminology includes the study of all aspects of crime and law enforcement—criminal psychology, the social setting of crime, prohibition and prevention, investigation and detection, capture and punishment. Thus, many of the people involved—legislators, social workers, probation officers, judges, etc.—could possibly be considered criminologists, though the word usually refers only to scholars and researchers.
Examples of criminology in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kohberger, a graduate student in criminology at nearby Washington State University, was arrested in Pennsylvania, where his parents lived, roughly six weeks after the murders.
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Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
The investigation eventually uncovers chilling clues that lead to Bryan Kohberger (Merry), a seemingly quiet criminology PhD student, as the only suspect.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025
Jerry Ratcliffe, professor of criminology at the University of Pennsylvania, compares the Guard deployments to the United Kingdom's police community support officers, who wear uniforms but lack traditional police powers.
—Martin Kaste, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
The other student allegedly stalked by Kohberger worked in the criminology department with him, but was an undergraduate.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
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Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
The investigation eventually uncovers chilling clues that lead to Bryan Kohberger (Merry), a seemingly quiet criminology PhD student, as the only suspect.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025
Jerry Ratcliffe, professor of criminology at the University of Pennsylvania, compares the Guard deployments to the United Kingdom's police community support officers, who wear uniforms but lack traditional police powers.
—Martin Kaste, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
The other student allegedly stalked by Kohberger worked in the criminology department with him, but was an undergraduate.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminology
Cite this Entry
“Criminology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminology. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
criminology
noun
crim·i·nol·o·gy
ˌkrim-ə-ˈnäl-ə-jē 
: a scientific study of crime, of criminals, and of their punishment or correction
Medical Definition
Legal Definition
criminology
noun
crim·i·nol·o·gy
ˌkri-mə-ˈnä-lə-jē
: the scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon, of criminals, and of penal treatment
criminologically
adverb
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