criminality

noun

crim·​i·​nal·​i·​ty ˌkri-mə-ˈna-lə-tē 

1

: the quality or state of being criminal

2

: criminal activity

urban criminality

Synonyms

• crime

Examples of criminality in a Sentence

a report on the drop in criminality in large urban centers

Recent Examples on the Web

No criminality is suspected in either case, according to police. —Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 11 Aug. 2025

Sometimes Hollywood stories do involve real criminality, as with All the President’s Men. —Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 19 July 2025

So far, there's nothing to indicate any criminality Carl DeFazio, formerly of the NYPD, was brought on as the private investigator in the case. —July 5, CBS News, 5 July 2025

These relationships, the defense team argued, were toxic and perhaps abusive, but failed to meet the government's standards of federal criminality. —Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 2 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

criminal entry 1 + -ity, perhaps after French criminalité

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for criminality

• abnormality
• cardinality
• commonality
• communality
• cordiality
• corporeality
• criticality
• functionality
• generality
• geniality
• hospitality
• illegality

Legal Definition

criminality

noun

crim·​i·​nal·​i·​ty ˌkri-mə-ˈna-lə-tē 

1

: the quality or state of being criminal

can't understand the criminality of his act

2

: crime sense 3

violent criminality