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
Well, the true crime genre is a big part of this, and that's gonna be a big core of the audience.
—H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Watch Fleishman Is in Trouble on Hulu Welcome to Chippendales
In 2022, Hulu premiered the true crime miniseries Welcome to Chippendales, starring Kumail Nanjiani, who also served as executive producer.
—James Mercadante, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
The instinct to move beyond the true crime template, avoiding a false happily-ever-after ending, is a good one.
—Judy Berman, Time, 20 Aug. 2025
The summit took place on Aug. 14 in New York, where conversations hosted by Variety and Rolling Stone contributors included reporting in politics, documentary development and true crime.
—Leia Mendoza, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
Earlier this year, Farrow released Not A Very Good Murderer, a true crime podcast series investigating a series of cold cases in a wealthy community.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Directed by Margaret Brown and produced by A24 and Fruit Tree, the four-part true crime documentary delves into the many developments that have arisen in the decades since, including the arrest (and eventual release) of the case's four prime suspects.
—EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Most murder is informed by broader systemic injustices and true crime media often fails to contextualize its horrors, leading to narratives that contort perpetrators into monsters rather than products of our flawed social systems.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 15 Aug. 2025
Will the company stay focused on true crime, or what does the future of Renowned look like?
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Watch Fleishman Is in Trouble on Hulu Welcome to Chippendales
In 2022, Hulu premiered the true crime miniseries Welcome to Chippendales, starring Kumail Nanjiani, who also served as executive producer.
—James Mercadante, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
The instinct to move beyond the true crime template, avoiding a false happily-ever-after ending, is a good one.
—Judy Berman, Time, 20 Aug. 2025
The summit took place on Aug. 14 in New York, where conversations hosted by Variety and Rolling Stone contributors included reporting in politics, documentary development and true crime.
—Leia Mendoza, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
Earlier this year, Farrow released Not A Very Good Murderer, a true crime podcast series investigating a series of cold cases in a wealthy community.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Directed by Margaret Brown and produced by A24 and Fruit Tree, the four-part true crime documentary delves into the many developments that have arisen in the decades since, including the arrest (and eventual release) of the case's four prime suspects.
—EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Most murder is informed by broader systemic injustices and true crime media often fails to contextualize its horrors, leading to narratives that contort perpetrators into monsters rather than products of our flawed social systems.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 15 Aug. 2025
Will the company stay focused on true crime, or what does the future of Renowned look like?
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“True crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/true%20crime. Accessed 1 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share