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

Little House on the Prairie has debuted on Netflix at #2, behind only the ever-present Worst Neighbor Ever true crime anthology. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Though romance stories have long powered the microdrama industry, a host of creatives is trying to popularize bite-sized stories in other genres — from true crime to anime to thrillers to, now, faith and family. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2026

That’s what Rebecca Loviconi‘s ‘genre fusion’ feature doc Crime or Rescue will reveal, as the ‘romantic true crime’ story that’s set to hit the doc market follows radical animal activists who unexpectedly fall in love during the filming. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 July 2026

The mystery of her disappearance has drawn attention from true crime enthusiasts for years. — Michael Loria, USA Today, 30 June 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