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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
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Jillian Peterson, executive director of the Violence Prevention Project Research Center and a criminology professor at Hamline University, told USA Today that surges in violence can still occur despite positive trends.
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Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
As revealed at the end of the documentary, Lauryn is planning to attend college and study criminology.
—Jordana Comiter, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
For DeCarlo, the criminology professor, swatting isn’t anything new.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
Most criminology scholars do not study violence of any type in rural communities, which partly contributes to the widespread belief that rural women are safer than their urban and suburban counterparts.
—Walter S. Dekeseredy, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025
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Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
As revealed at the end of the documentary, Lauryn is planning to attend college and study criminology.
—Jordana Comiter, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
For DeCarlo, the criminology professor, swatting isn’t anything new.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
Most criminology scholars do not study violence of any type in rural communities, which partly contributes to the widespread belief that rural women are safer than their urban and suburban counterparts.
—Walter S. Dekeseredy, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 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 10 Sep. 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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