hate crime

noun

: any of various crimes (such as assault or defacement of property) when motivated by hostility to the victim as a member of a group (such as one based on color, creed, gender, or sexual orientation)

Examples of hate crime in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Among many Jewish Chicagoans dissatisfied with early responses to Saturday’s shooting was Alderman Debra Silverstein, who spoke with Fox News Digital before Abdallahi’s hate crime charge was announced. —Beth Bailey, Fox News, 3 Nov. 2024

In September, the FBI released its hate crime statistics from last year, indicating that the US recorded 11,862 hate crime incidents involving 13,829 offenses, with 22.5% motivated by religion. —Hanna Park, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024

Its attorneys launch hate crimes prosecutions, investigate discrimination in employment and housing, and sue states when their voting rules run afoul of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. —Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 1 Nov. 2024

Calls have continued for hate crime charges over the following days, but the Chicago Police Department has yet to announce any. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hate crime

noun

plural hate crimes

: any of various crimes (as assault) when motivated by hostility to the victim based on social characteristics (as color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin)

Legal Definition

hate crime

noun

: a crime that violates the victim's civil rights and that is motivated by hostility to the victim's race, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender