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 color, creed, gender, or sexual orientation)

Examples of hate crime in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In some cases, the religious hate has led to hate crimes and violence, such as the recent mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in August, which was mentioned by faith leaders during the panel. —Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025

Overland Park police have identified a suspect, but haven’t deemed the act a hate crime. —Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025

The attack has spurred allegations of a hate crime against the girl, who is Yemeni and Muslim. —Andrea May Sahouri, Freep.com, 22 Oct. 2025

Once the news hit social media, the district began receiving emails blasting the district for what was referred to as a hate crime. —Marsha Sutton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025

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