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

To me, this is short-sighted, even if there is no denying that cybercrime targets people and that social engineering is key in many attack patterns. —Jc Gaillard, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025

All three insurance-company hacks are consistent with the techniques of a young and rampant cybercrime group known as Scattered Spider, people familiar the investigation tell CNN. —Sean Lyngaas, CNN Money, 20 June 2025

That’s right, the FBI warns that bad actors have hijacked over a million of these devices with malware, turning them into unwitting participants in a global cybercrime network. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2025

Although neither this group nor individuals supposedly participating in it were named in these official statements, the allegations extend a disturbing trend in cybercrime that authorities and experts say can lead to real-world violence and abuse. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 8 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