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Criminology includes the study of all aspects of crime and law enforcement—criminal psychology, the social setting of crime, prohibition and prevention, investigation and detection, capture and punishment. Thus, many of the people involved—legislators, social workers, probation officers, judges, etc.—could possibly be considered criminologists, though the word usually refers only to scholars and researchers.
Examples of criminology in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The former criminology student declined to provide insight into his motive.
—
Nicole Acosta, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
His criminology training raised alarm over his knowledge of investigative tactics.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
Engle that there was no record of the future criminology student attending any campus events that weekend.
—Chris Spargo, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
The 30-year-old was a criminology student at Washington State University, a 10-mile drive from the crime scene.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 16 July 2025
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Nicole Acosta, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
His criminology training raised alarm over his knowledge of investigative tactics.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
Engle that there was no record of the future criminology student attending any campus events that weekend.
—Chris Spargo, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
The 30-year-old was a criminology student at Washington State University, a 10-mile drive from the crime scene.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminology
Cite this Entry
“Criminology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminology. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
criminology
noun
crim·i·nol·o·gy
ˌkrim-ə-ˈnäl-ə-jē 
: a scientific study of crime, of criminals, and of their punishment or correction
Medical Definition
Legal Definition
criminology
noun
crim·i·nol·o·gy
ˌkri-mə-ˈnä-lə-jē
: the scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon, of criminals, and of penal treatment
criminologically
adverb
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