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
• lawbreaking
• lawlessness

Examples of criminality in a Sentence

a report on the drop in criminality in large urban centers

Recent Examples on the Web

Part of the problem is that, in the Brazilian legislature, corruption and criminality are so endemic as to be inextricable from the job of governance. —Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025

Since 2014, Ukraine has been subjected to a level of violence and criminality that reflects Russia’s utter contempt for the laws of armed conflict. —The Editors, National Review, 20 Feb. 2025

There is no indication of any criminality or terrorism in the crash, a senior FBI official with the Washington field office said. —Elizabeth Maline, NBC News, 30 Jan. 2025

There will also be concern over whether Trump's pardons of the US Capitol rioters on January 6, will lead to further acts of violence and criminality. —Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 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