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

Ransomware remains a lucrative criminal enterprise in 2025, with no sign of the threat from organized cybercrime groups easing up. —Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025

Most of the phone numbers used to send the messages are international, and catching criminals requires a great deal of international cooperation, said J. Michael Skiba, a veteran cybercrime investigator who has worked with the FBI, United Nations and Interpol, among others. —Robert Ferris, CNBC, 19 Mar. 2025

City officials say the local law allows for cooperation with the feds in criminal matters like human trafficking, child exploitation, drug and weapons trafficking and cybercrimes. —Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 14 Mar. 2025

The internal discussions suggest that while some members believed this could force a settlement, others feared that escalating the situation could provoke severe retaliatory measures, like those seen in past cybercrime crackdowns. —ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2025

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