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
Most murder is informed by broader systemic injustices and true crime media often fails to contextualize its horrors, leading to narratives that contort perpetrators into monsters rather than products of our flawed social systems.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 15 Aug. 2025
Will the company stay focused on true crime, or what does the future of Renowned look like?
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025
However, like the acclaimed Hulu show Only Murders in the Building, their passion for true crime hobby turns into an actual murder investigation.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
Not all of them, but most true crime podcasts seemed to forget that these were people.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2025
The company’s catalog includes programming in genres ranging from true crime and reality to animation, westerns, classics and horror.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 July 2025
Keep reading to dive into the infamous true crime case, including what investigators believe happened, the theories surrounding the murders and the latest developments in DNA technology that could help solve them.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Then there’s this insane story of all these twists and turns and rabbit holes, which the true crime audience is interested in.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2025
Berkowitz was obsessed with the true-crime According to Berkowitz, an obsession with true crime entertainment helped develop his homicidal tendencies.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2025
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Kayti Burt, Time, 15 Aug. 2025
Will the company stay focused on true crime, or what does the future of Renowned look like?
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025
However, like the acclaimed Hulu show Only Murders in the Building, their passion for true crime hobby turns into an actual murder investigation.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
Not all of them, but most true crime podcasts seemed to forget that these were people.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2025
The company’s catalog includes programming in genres ranging from true crime and reality to animation, westerns, classics and horror.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 July 2025
Keep reading to dive into the infamous true crime case, including what investigators believe happened, the theories surrounding the murders and the latest developments in DNA technology that could help solve them.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Then there’s this insane story of all these twists and turns and rabbit holes, which the true crime audience is interested in.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2025
Berkowitz was obsessed with the true-crime According to Berkowitz, an obsession with true crime entertainment helped develop his homicidal tendencies.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“True crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/true%20crime. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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