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

Then, in late December, PowerSchool received a series of threatening messages claiming to be from a global cybercrime syndicate. —Mike Levine, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026

South Africa and Nigeria ranked among the top 20 countries worldwide where cybercrime complaints were filed last year, research by the US FBI found. —Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026

Many of the gangs' voluntary workers went home during Covid; not enough locals had the necessary language and computer skills, and recruiting people into cybercrime isn't always easy. —The Week Uk, TheWeek, 12 Apr. 2026

This method also allows businesses to worry less about concerns like scaling storage space or installing applications, but not even cloud computing is safe from the dangers of cybercrime. —Felysha Walker, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 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