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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
The jury will first consider whether the 30-year-old former criminology graduate student is guilty.
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Jean Casarez, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
Rebecca Hanson, an assistant professor of sociology and criminology at the University of Florida, wrote in a court filing for the case that there are no tattoos, symbols or hand gestures associated with the group.
—Lilia Luciano, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2025
After getting his bachelor’s in criminology in December 2024, Al-Arab began his master’s program the following spring.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 24 May 2025
The pair donned matching blue caps and gowns and queued up in line behind fellow 2025 graduates, with the elder Al Arab ready to accept his Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology.
—Alana Wise, NPR, 22 May 2025
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Jean Casarez, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
Rebecca Hanson, an assistant professor of sociology and criminology at the University of Florida, wrote in a court filing for the case that there are no tattoos, symbols or hand gestures associated with the group.
—Lilia Luciano, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2025
After getting his bachelor’s in criminology in December 2024, Al-Arab began his master’s program the following spring.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 24 May 2025
The pair donned matching blue caps and gowns and queued up in line behind fellow 2025 graduates, with the elder Al Arab ready to accept his Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology.
—Alana Wise, NPR, 22 May 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 10 Jul. 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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