hate crime

noun

Updated on: 14 May 2018

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)

Recent Examples of hate crime from the Web

The enhanced hate crime charges mean the four could face as much as 30 years in prison if convicted, rather than only 15 years on previously filed aggravated battery charges.

— NBC News, "Hate crime charges filed in Florida gay pride parade attack," 10 May 2018
The enhanced hate crime charges mean the four could face as much as 30 years in prison if convicted, rather than only 15 years on previously filed aggravated battery charges.

— Fox News, "Hate crime charges filed in Florida gay pride parade attack," 10 May 2018
Violence and threats based on a person's gender also were deemed hate crimes.

— susan haigh, courant.com, "Connecticut Lawmakers Vote To Require Holocaust Education," 8 May 2018
Following the attacks, 16 community members faced hate crime or obstruction charges.

— jared gilmour, miamiherald, "Mastermind of Amish beard-cutting raids is in prison — and he’s staying put, judge says | Miami Herald," 4 May 2018
Arcs of two lives intersect in tragedy at bar in Olathe Federal hate crime charges are pending against Purinton, who is scheduled to enter a plea in that case on May 21.

— tony rizzo, kansascity, "Life in prison for murder of Indian engineer at bar; feds' hate crime case pending | The Kansas City Star," 4 May 2018
Prosecutors dropped the battery and hate crime charges, records obtained by the Guardian said.

— jared gilmour, sacbee, "Cop in black man’s shooting death had been fired after racial slurs — then reinstated, police say | The Sacramento Bee," 1 May 2018
Other observations from the report include: Violent crimes against seniors, hate crimes and domestic violence incidents all increased between 2016 and 2017.

— lyndsay winkley, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Diego County one of the safest regions in the country, crime report says," 27 Apr. 2018
The hate crime became a flash point for criticism against Scotland Yard, including some accusing a detective of dragging his feet in arresting the primary suspects and charges being dropped for a time in the 1990s.

— michelle ruiz, Vogue, "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Attending a Memorial for the Victim of a Racially Motivated Hate Crime, Break New Political Ground for the Palace," 23 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hate crime.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of hate crime

1960

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

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