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

Richard Marceau, senior vice president of strategic initiatives and general counsel at the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs, noted that Jewish Canadians are 25 times more likely than any other group to be victims of hate crimes. —Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026

At this time, police do not believe this was a hate crime targeting either the Asian or Jewish establishments. —John Dias, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026

For nearly 70 years, its attorneys have investigated hate crimes and police abuses, worked to combat discrimination, and enforced the protections enshrined in statutes such as the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. —Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026

Researchers have linked incendiary rhetoric about Muslims to spikes in discrimination and hate crimes in Europe and North America. —Anna Piela, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 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