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hate crime

noun
Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of hate crime

:any of various crimes (such as assault or defacement of property) when motivated by hostility to the victim as a member of a group (such as one based on color, creed, gender, or sexual orientation)

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First Known Use of hate crime

1960

Law Dictionary

hate crime

noun

legal Definition of hate crime

:a crime that violates the victim's civil rights and that is motivated by hostility to the victim's race, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender

Learn More about hate crime

  1. See words that rhyme with hate crime Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hate crime

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