cybercrime

noun

cy·​ber·​crime ˈsī-bər-ˌkrīm 

plural cybercrimes

: criminal activity (such as fraud, theft, or distribution of child pornography) committed using a computer especially to illegally access, transmit, or manipulate data

The growing number of mobile devices, such as phones and tablets, and the popularity of social networks give them new avenues in which to expand their cybercrime.

—Eric Geier

Cybercrime is taking a bottom-line toll on the corporate workplace. Last year, losses exceeded $100 million—and that figure continues to skyrocket as security breaches pose an increasing threat to U.S. corporations, banks, and even the government.

—Beth Wilson

also : an instance of such activity

The increasing prevalence of cloud computing … has made storing and accessing important electronic data easier and less expensive than ever. However, the expanding number of documents and other information being stored electronically has increased the threat of cybercrimes, including data breaches.

—John Squitero

cybercriminal

ˈsī-bər-ˌkri-mə-nᵊl 

-ˈkrim-nəl

noun

plural cybercriminals

More small businesses are falling victim to "ransomware," to which malicious code locks up computer files and cybercriminals demand a ransom to free them.

—Ruth Simon

Examples of cybercrime in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case and the demand for bitcoin ransom have highlighted the prevalence of cybercrimes. —Molly McCrea, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026

Kyung-Shick Choi, the director of cybercrime and cybersecurity at Boston University's Metropolitan College, said such residual data can still remain in the server systems that store, process or temporarily cache video files and metadata. —Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026

The Trust Act allows for local cooperation with ICE on certain criminal matters, like human trafficking, child exploitation, drug and weapons trafficking, and cybercrimes. —Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026

Homeland Security Investigations, a branch of ICE tasked with providing intelligence and monitoring human trafficking, cybercrime, and counterterrorism, often helps secure large sporting events such as the Olympics, World Cup, and the Super Bowl. —Denny Alfonso, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cybercrime

• aforetime
• allozyme
• anytime
• christmastime
• dinnertime
• guggenheim
• isozyme
• lysozyme
• maritime
• mesenchyme
• overtime
• pantomime

Kids Definition

cybercrime

noun

cy·​ber·​crime ˈsī-bər-ˌkrīm 

: criminal activity (as fraud or theft) committed using a computer especially to illegally access, transmit, or manipulate data

also : an instance of such activity

Legal Definition

cybercrime

noun

cy·​ber·​crime ˈsī-bər-ˌkrīm 

: crime (as theft, fraud, intellectual property violations, or distribution of child pornography) committed electronically