true crime

noun

: a nonfiction genre of literature, film, podcasts, etc. that depicts and examines real crime cases

Fans of true crime will enjoy this collection of tales from the annals of American justice …

—Jennifer Moore

—usually used before another noun

a true crime podcast/documentary/novel

In each episode, legal and criminal justice experts give you the inside scoop on the most shocking true crime stories … to hit the news.

—LeeAnn Huntoon

As true crime podcasts, TV shows, books and online content continue to prove popular, cases never truly fade from the spotlight.

—Bethany Bruner

Examples of true crime in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Its streaming app hosts short-form true crime audio and video shows that are fully AI-generated. — Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

The decision was a shocking twist in the high-profile case, which has gripped the public for years and sparked several true crime podcasts, books and documentaries. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026

The killings of Murdaugh’s wife and son and his subsequent six-week trial captivated the true crime world with a mix of treachery, corruption, money, power and Southern accents. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

The need for the association became more apparent in the UK after the suicide of true crime producer John Balson, who had been working on a Channel 4 true crime series in the months leading up to his death. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for true crime

• airtime
• bedtime
• daytime
• downtime
• enzyme
• halftime
• lifetime
• longtime
• lunchtime
• mealtime
• meantime
• nighttime