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

Maryland rabbi attacked with wooden stake as police investigate it as a hate crime Authorities have not confirmed a possible motive in the case and the investigation is currently ongoing. —Jon Haworth, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2024

The Justice Department accused the men of soliciting hate crimes, soliciting the murder of federal officials and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, using the Telegram platform. —Melissa Cruz, USA TODAY, 12 Oct. 2024

Montreal Jewish school hit by gunfire for second time in less than a week as city experiences uptick in hate crimes The same school was also hit with gunfire in a similar incident in May, Krawczyk said. —Emma Tucker, CNN, 12 Oct. 2024

Following a high-profile hate crime in New York involving a woman of Filipino decent, Brandon Elliot earlier this year in February was sentenced to 15 years in prison for assault and criminal possession of a weapon. —Russell Flannery, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

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