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
In Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, Gomez, 33, plays Mabel, who befriends two of her neighbors — Charles (Steve Martin) and Oliver (Martin Short) — who share her obsession with true crime podcasts.
—Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Bob Dylan biographer, true crime writer, and novelist Dennis McDougal died on March 22 at the age of 77.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
Cultural historians will struggle to pinpoint the exact moment true crime became one of the great American pastimes.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
There is a recently burgeoning genre of documentaries — usually either celebrity or true crime in focus — driven not by aesthetic or storytelling imperatives but by (self-)promotional machinery.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 Dec. 2025
Binge a true crime podcast if that’s the vibe, but don’t neglect the real questions that need answering right now.
—Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Dec. 2025
View gallery - 4 images Your next favorite true crime podcast might have some new forensics jargon to make sense of.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 20 Dec. 2025
Within days, it was hurled into the internet's true crime universe, Andrea May Sahouri reports, with influencers far and wide sharing posts, live streams and even dissections of timelines and evidence, bringing national attention to Park and a reeling rural Michigan community.
—Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Topics range from hard-hitting political journalism and true crime to sports fare and lighthearted human interest stories, providing potential topics for filmmakers of all stripes.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 18 Dec. 2025
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Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Bob Dylan biographer, true crime writer, and novelist Dennis McDougal died on March 22 at the age of 77.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
Cultural historians will struggle to pinpoint the exact moment true crime became one of the great American pastimes.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
There is a recently burgeoning genre of documentaries — usually either celebrity or true crime in focus — driven not by aesthetic or storytelling imperatives but by (self-)promotional machinery.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 Dec. 2025
Binge a true crime podcast if that’s the vibe, but don’t neglect the real questions that need answering right now.
—Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Dec. 2025
View gallery - 4 images Your next favorite true crime podcast might have some new forensics jargon to make sense of.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 20 Dec. 2025
Within days, it was hurled into the internet's true crime universe, Andrea May Sahouri reports, with influencers far and wide sharing posts, live streams and even dissections of timelines and evidence, bringing national attention to Park and a reeling rural Michigan community.
—Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Topics range from hard-hitting political journalism and true crime to sports fare and lighthearted human interest stories, providing potential topics for filmmakers of all stripes.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 18 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“True crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/true%20crime. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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