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
The Cape Fear series adaptation — created, written, and showrun by Nick Antosca — is billed as a tense, Hitchcockian thriller and an examination of America’s obsession with true crime in the 21st century.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
A couple of years ago, the true crime show Cold Justice reached out to Lake Station Police Detective Steven Peek about one of the cold cases after a family member contacted the show.
—Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
That same expectation doesn’t apply in Hollywood, where the true crime ecosystem continues to needlessly zombify old cases.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Aug. 2025
Read’s two trials became the focus of intense true crime fandom.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
But when that happened in Bryan Kohberger’s criminal case the records, including crime scene photos, were plastered on news outlets, social media pages dedicated to the case and in true crime videos and posts.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 29 Aug. 2025
Banks isn't the only star to take on an infamous true crime role.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The film is based on a series of a five novels about a group of retirees who are also true crime obsessives and amateur sleuths.
—EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
What about that made this true crime story different to you?
—H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
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Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
A couple of years ago, the true crime show Cold Justice reached out to Lake Station Police Detective Steven Peek about one of the cold cases after a family member contacted the show.
—Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
That same expectation doesn’t apply in Hollywood, where the true crime ecosystem continues to needlessly zombify old cases.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Aug. 2025
Read’s two trials became the focus of intense true crime fandom.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
But when that happened in Bryan Kohberger’s criminal case the records, including crime scene photos, were plastered on news outlets, social media pages dedicated to the case and in true crime videos and posts.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 29 Aug. 2025
Banks isn't the only star to take on an infamous true crime role.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The film is based on a series of a five novels about a group of retirees who are also true crime obsessives and amateur sleuths.
—EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
What about that made this true crime story different to you?
—H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“True crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/true%20crime. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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