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
Though largely forgotten today, the Hall-Mills murder became one of the first true crime spectacles of the mass media age.
—Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 27 June 2025
National reporters and true crime junkies dug in, while local officials — already lacquered in scandal — looked so crooked a frame job seemed not just possible but probable.
—Tom Blakely, Boston Herald, 27 June 2025
The true crime story about a millionaire dentist, his wife, and his mistress, and one of their suspicious deaths on a Zambian safari — a mystery documented in the pages of Rolling Stone — will be the focus of a Hulu docuseries out next month.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2025
Read’s charges stemmed from the 2022 death of her Boston police officer boyfriend John O’Keefe in a saga that caught the attention of the true crime community.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 19 June 2025
Both of the filmmakers are known for past projects that center around the ethical consideration of true crime — including using projects to highlight stories of people on the margins that can typically be ignored by the media and police.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2025
Access our exclusive collection of true crime stories, podcasts, videos and more
How was Hardin caught, ending 12-day manhunt?
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 8 June 2025
With appetites for true crime documentaries seemingly insatiable, some viewers will be perplexed and even frustrated at how the directors don’t want to play investigative reporter or detective.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025
The book’s a meld of true crime, memoir and social commentary, but with a mission: to shock readers into a deeper understanding of the American Nightmare, ecological devastation entwined with senseless sadism.
—Hamilton Cain, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
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Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 27 June 2025
National reporters and true crime junkies dug in, while local officials — already lacquered in scandal — looked so crooked a frame job seemed not just possible but probable.
—Tom Blakely, Boston Herald, 27 June 2025
The true crime story about a millionaire dentist, his wife, and his mistress, and one of their suspicious deaths on a Zambian safari — a mystery documented in the pages of Rolling Stone — will be the focus of a Hulu docuseries out next month.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2025
Read’s charges stemmed from the 2022 death of her Boston police officer boyfriend John O’Keefe in a saga that caught the attention of the true crime community.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 19 June 2025
Both of the filmmakers are known for past projects that center around the ethical consideration of true crime — including using projects to highlight stories of people on the margins that can typically be ignored by the media and police.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2025
Access our exclusive collection of true crime stories, podcasts, videos and more
How was Hardin caught, ending 12-day manhunt?
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 8 June 2025
With appetites for true crime documentaries seemingly insatiable, some viewers will be perplexed and even frustrated at how the directors don’t want to play investigative reporter or detective.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025
The book’s a meld of true crime, memoir and social commentary, but with a mission: to shock readers into a deeper understanding of the American Nightmare, ecological devastation entwined with senseless sadism.
—Hamilton Cain, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“True crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/true%20crime. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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