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 nounJennifer Moorea 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
LeeAnn HuntoonAs true crime podcasts, TV shows, books and online content continue to prove popular, cases never truly fade from the spotlight.—Bethany Bruner
Bethany BrunerExamples of true crime in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And a YouGov poll shows that 61% of women watch true crime compared to their male counterparts at 52%.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 18 June 2026
One of the world’s most notorious art heists is getting a true crime documentary from Studiocanal.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 17 June 2026
The finale ends with a shocking final murder — that of their beloved true crime podcast host, Cinda Canning (Tina Fey).
—Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026
The ubiquitous British YouTuber runs a creator version of a cable conglomerate, helming channels about true crime, space, war and human achievements, among others.
—Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2026
Johnson explains that having footage directly from the subject curbs the need to shoot dramatic reenactments, a waning trope of the true crime genre that has been actually used in retellings of the Shirilla case.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 12 June 2026
The first book was published the same year as Serial debuted, kicking off our burgeoning obsession with true crime and our tendency to romanticize the male perpetrators while often homogenizing their overwhelmingly female victims into cautionary tales.
—Scarlett Harris, Time, 11 June 2026
Plus, everyone was listening to true crime podcasts.
—Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
Those who loved Christine, a dedicated pediatric nurse, are making sure she is remembered as more than a true crime headline.
—Alyssa Modos, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 18 June 2026
One of the world’s most notorious art heists is getting a true crime documentary from Studiocanal.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 17 June 2026
The finale ends with a shocking final murder — that of their beloved true crime podcast host, Cinda Canning (Tina Fey).
—Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026
The ubiquitous British YouTuber runs a creator version of a cable conglomerate, helming channels about true crime, space, war and human achievements, among others.
—Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2026
Johnson explains that having footage directly from the subject curbs the need to shoot dramatic reenactments, a waning trope of the true crime genre that has been actually used in retellings of the Shirilla case.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 12 June 2026
The first book was published the same year as Serial debuted, kicking off our burgeoning obsession with true crime and our tendency to romanticize the male perpetrators while often homogenizing their overwhelmingly female victims into cautionary tales.
—Scarlett Harris, Time, 11 June 2026
Plus, everyone was listening to true crime podcasts.
—Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
Those who loved Christine, a dedicated pediatric nurse, are making sure she is remembered as more than a true crime headline.
—Alyssa Modos, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“True crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/true%20crime. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
