cybercrime

noun

cy·​ber·​crime ˈsī-bər-ˌkrīm 

plural cybercrimes

: criminal activity (such as fraud, theft, or distribution of child pornography) committed using a computer especially to illegally access, transmit, or manipulate data

The growing number of mobile devices, such as phones and tablets, and the popularity of social networks give them new avenues in which to expand their cybercrime.

—Eric Geier

Cybercrime is taking a bottom-line toll on the corporate workplace. Last year, losses exceeded $100 million—and that figure continues to skyrocket as security breaches pose an increasing threat to U.S. corporations, banks, and even the government.

—Beth Wilson

also : an instance of such activity

The increasing prevalence of cloud computing … has made storing and accessing important electronic data easier and less expensive than ever. However, the expanding number of documents and other information being stored electronically has increased the threat of cybercrimes, including data breaches.

—John Squitero

cybercriminal

ˈsī-bər-ˌkri-mə-nᵊl 

-ˈkrim-nəl

noun

plural cybercriminals

More small businesses are falling victim to "ransomware," to which malicious code locks up computer files and cybercriminals demand a ransom to free them.

—Ruth Simon

Examples of cybercrime in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With the rise of AI and cybercrime-as-a-service, states can recruit criminals and simply provide the means to facilitate attacks. — Steve Durbin, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Still, the investigation underscores a persistent trend of teenagers fueling cybercrime, prompting efforts to steer youngsters away from hacking for profit. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 1 Oct. 2026

Van der Stap's 2023 convictions of data theft and extortion had already received widespread publicity, as did his subsequent public disavowal of cybercrime. — Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026

In August 2025, Anthropic said that a sophisticated cybercrime ring used Claude Code to extort data from healthcare organizations, emergency services, religious institutions, and even government entities, all in one month. — Hayden Field, The Verge, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cybercrime

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

Kids Definition

cybercrime

noun

cy·​ber·​crime ˈsī-bər-ˌkrīm 

: criminal activity (as fraud or theft) committed using a computer especially to illegally access, transmit, or manipulate data

also : an instance of such activity

Legal Definition

cybercrime

noun

cy·​ber·​crime ˈsī-bər-ˌkrīm 

: crime (as theft, fraud, intellectual property violations, or distribution of child pornography) committed electronically