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

The battle against cybercrime is ongoing, and a coordinated response among end users, financial institutions and cybersecurity professionals is essential to thwart these sophisticated attacks and safeguard digital assets in the coming years. —Yaamini Barathi Mohan, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025

To end the stigma, warn others, and make cybercrime less isolating overall. —Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 15 May 2025

As the underground industry of crypto investment scams has grown into one of the world's most lucrative forms of cybercrime, the secondary market of money launderers for those scammers has grown to match it. —Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 13 May 2025

The danger lies more in amplifying the volume and reach of known forms of cybercrime than in the development of novel attacks. —Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 7 May 2025

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