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
Wyles will be founder and Creative Director at Nuntius, which will focus on history, science, true crime and factual entertainment genres for broadcasters, streamers and digital platforms.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 24 Nov. 2025
In September, 1639, John Winthrop, the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, recorded in his journal a dreadful tale of Puritan true crime.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
The deaths of John Chakalos and Linda Carman are being reexamined in Netflix’s new true crime documentary The Carman Family Deaths.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 21 Nov. 2025
Spencer Lofranco, star of the true crime drama Gotti and Angelina Jolie’s war drama Unbroken, has died.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 21 Nov. 2025
The podcast genres that were most frequently hosted by women include true crime, arts, society and culture (which the researchers put into one category), news and education.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
Framed as a broadcast true crime documentary made after Salazar’s trial, this brilliant lo-fi effort enlists several more talking heads to balance out the whodunnit.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 7 Nov. 2025
However, as the show continues to capture audiences with a dramatization of one of the most notorious true crime cases in modern American history, the man responsible for the killings is asking viewers to consider watching with a skeptical mind.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Private equity or streamers look to a familiar slate of celebrity profiles or true crime docs.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 24 Nov. 2025
In September, 1639, John Winthrop, the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, recorded in his journal a dreadful tale of Puritan true crime.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
The deaths of John Chakalos and Linda Carman are being reexamined in Netflix’s new true crime documentary The Carman Family Deaths.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 21 Nov. 2025
Spencer Lofranco, star of the true crime drama Gotti and Angelina Jolie’s war drama Unbroken, has died.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 21 Nov. 2025
The podcast genres that were most frequently hosted by women include true crime, arts, society and culture (which the researchers put into one category), news and education.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
Framed as a broadcast true crime documentary made after Salazar’s trial, this brilliant lo-fi effort enlists several more talking heads to balance out the whodunnit.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 7 Nov. 2025
However, as the show continues to capture audiences with a dramatization of one of the most notorious true crime cases in modern American history, the man responsible for the killings is asking viewers to consider watching with a skeptical mind.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Private equity or streamers look to a familiar slate of celebrity profiles or true crime docs.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“True crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/true%20crime. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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