hate crime

noun

: 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 race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability)

Examples of hate crime in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ari Halberstam Devorah Halberstam Until now, the federal government hasn't investigated the case as a civil rights violation and hate crime. — Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

The man, now identified as Andrew Truelove, 41, was quickly taken into custody and charged with felony burglary as a hate crime and felony menacing as a hate crime, according to a Manhattan District Attorney's complaint obtained by USA TODAY. — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026

This number was a 1% decrease from the record high reported in 2023 and represents an average of nearly four hate crimes a day. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026

McDonnell said hate crime incidence, however, is trending downward from the 838 attacks, a record high, that were logged in 2023. — City News Service, Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hate crime

• aforetime
• allozyme
• anytime
• christmastime
• cybercrime
• dinnertime
• guggenheim
• isozyme
• lysozyme
• maritime
• mesenchyme
• overtime

Kids Definition

hate crime

noun

plural hate crimes

: any of various crimes (as assault) when motivated by hostility to the victim based on social characteristics (as color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin)

Legal Definition

hate crime

noun

: 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