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
Netflix has become the place for documentaries about true crime, but also documentaries about cults and sects.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 10 Apr. 2026
Along with Chuck Klosterman, Thompson is one of the writers who can write about anything from food to true crime to golf.
—Mac Engel
april 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
International programming spans verticals like food, lifestyle, true crime, movies, documentaries and sports.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 8 Apr. 2026
It was featured on true crime shows and podcasts, and was even the subject of a best-selling book.
—Jeff Capellini, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The projects on this list analyze historic and modern true crime cases and examine the perpetrators through an academic lens.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
One thing there does seem to be an appetite for is true crime, but a lot of the stories are about women being murdered or raped, and true crime is not providing context or analysis to questions like, why does domestic violence happen?
—HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
Keefe, a New Yorker staff writer, is a master at using true crime as a vehicle for exploring social and political pathologies.
—Frank Langfitt, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
In February, the now 42-year-old West Aurora High School alum released a podcast about this unsolved case that has garnered more than 30,000 downloads, and that both Podcast Review and the BBC have listed as one of the top true crime podcasts so far for 2026.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
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Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 10 Apr. 2026
Along with Chuck Klosterman, Thompson is one of the writers who can write about anything from food to true crime to golf.
—Mac Engel
april 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
International programming spans verticals like food, lifestyle, true crime, movies, documentaries and sports.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 8 Apr. 2026
It was featured on true crime shows and podcasts, and was even the subject of a best-selling book.
—Jeff Capellini, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The projects on this list analyze historic and modern true crime cases and examine the perpetrators through an academic lens.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
One thing there does seem to be an appetite for is true crime, but a lot of the stories are about women being murdered or raped, and true crime is not providing context or analysis to questions like, why does domestic violence happen?
—HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
Keefe, a New Yorker staff writer, is a master at using true crime as a vehicle for exploring social and political pathologies.
—Frank Langfitt, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
In February, the now 42-year-old West Aurora High School alum released a podcast about this unsolved case that has garnered more than 30,000 downloads, and that both Podcast Review and the BBC have listed as one of the top true crime podcasts so far for 2026.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“True crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/true%20crime. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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