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
Once again, true crime was also top of mind for Netflix viewers.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 22 July 2025
In fact, one of the characters, true crime podcaster Tyler (Gabriette Bechtel), wears a shirt with her face on it and even revisits the scene of her gruesome murder (which doesn’t end well for Tyler either).
—Keith Langston, People.com, 20 July 2025
The gruesome case has riveted the public and has already been featured in multiple true crime documentaries.
—Lauren Del Valle, CNN Money, 17 July 2025
Advertisement Advertisement That case and the resulting investigation are the basis of a riveting if hard-to-watch true crime docu-series, The Furry Detectives: Unmasking A Monster, on Sundance starting July 17.
—Melissa Locker, Time, 17 July 2025
The Ongoing Search Amateur true crime enthusiast and online investigator Anthony Willis first heard about Amy’s case in 2014, but quickly became interested in the prevalence of online theories about Amy’s disappearance.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2025
Bone Valley The first season of this excellent true crime longform podcast tells the story of a man who was wrongfully convicted of his wife’s murder.
—Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
In the vacuum of real information being shared, conspiracy theorists and true crime hobbyists ran amok with false accusations.
—Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 4 July 2025
More: The lure of true crime: Why Kentucky can’t let go of the Crystal Rogers case
This is a breaking story and will update.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 8 July 2025
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Katie Campione, Deadline, 22 July 2025
In fact, one of the characters, true crime podcaster Tyler (Gabriette Bechtel), wears a shirt with her face on it and even revisits the scene of her gruesome murder (which doesn’t end well for Tyler either).
—Keith Langston, People.com, 20 July 2025
The gruesome case has riveted the public and has already been featured in multiple true crime documentaries.
—Lauren Del Valle, CNN Money, 17 July 2025
Advertisement Advertisement That case and the resulting investigation are the basis of a riveting if hard-to-watch true crime docu-series, The Furry Detectives: Unmasking A Monster, on Sundance starting July 17.
—Melissa Locker, Time, 17 July 2025
The Ongoing Search Amateur true crime enthusiast and online investigator Anthony Willis first heard about Amy’s case in 2014, but quickly became interested in the prevalence of online theories about Amy’s disappearance.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2025
Bone Valley The first season of this excellent true crime longform podcast tells the story of a man who was wrongfully convicted of his wife’s murder.
—Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
In the vacuum of real information being shared, conspiracy theorists and true crime hobbyists ran amok with false accusations.
—Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 4 July 2025
More: The lure of true crime: Why Kentucky can’t let go of the Crystal Rogers case
This is a breaking story and will update.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“True crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/true%20crime. Accessed 28 Jul. 2025.
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