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

criminological

ˌkri-mə-nə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

adjective

criminologically

ˌkri-mə-nə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

criminologist

ˌkri-mə-ˈnä-lə-jist 

noun

Did you know?

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

Almost seven weeks after the crime, genetic genealogy linked DNA on a knife sheath to Kohberger, a PhD student in criminology at nearby Washington State University. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 30 July 2026

According to reports viewed by the Associated Press, the faculty member encouraged colleagues to remove Kohberger from the criminology program. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 30 July 2026

The former criminology student filed a petition Monday seeking to challenge his guilty plea and conviction. — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Bryan Kohberger, who was a PhD student studying criminology at the nearby Washington State University at the time of the murders, was ultimately charged with the crimes. — Forbestv, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin crīmin-, crīmen "accusation, crime" + -o- + -logy

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for criminology

• aetiology
• anthropology
• archaeology
• archeology
• audiology
• cardiology
• climatology
• cohomology
• cosmetology
• demonology
• dermatology
• egyptology

Kids 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

criminological

ˌkrim-ən-ᵊl-ˈäj-i-kəl 

adjective

criminologist

ˌkrim-ə-ˈnäl-ə-jəst 

noun

Medical Definition

criminology

noun

crim·​i·​nol·​o·​gy ˌkrim-ə-ˈnäl-ə-jē 

plural criminologies

: the scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon, of criminals, and of penal treatment

criminological

-ən-ᵊl-ˈäj-i-kəl 

adjective

criminologically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

criminologist

ˌkrim-ə-ˈnäl-ə-jəst 

noun

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

criminological

ˌkri-mə-nə-ˈlä-jə-kəl 

adjective

criminologically adverb

criminologist

ˌkri-mə-ˈnä-lə-jist 

noun