true crime
noun
: a nonfiction genre of literature, film, podcasts, etc. that depicts and examines real crime cases
Fans of true crime will enjoy this collection of tales from the annals of American justice …—
Jennifer Moore
—usually used before another nounJennifer Moorea true crime podcast/documentary/novel
In each episode, legal and criminal justice experts give you the inside scoop on the most shocking true crime stories … to hit the news.—LeeAnn Huntoon
LeeAnn HuntoonAs true crime podcasts, TV shows, books and online content continue to prove popular, cases never truly fade from the spotlight.—Bethany Bruner
Bethany BrunerExamples of true crime in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The show has been hailed for its infectiously fizzy twist on the usually grim true crime genre — and much of that pop appeal, naturally, is carried by the show’s music.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2025
The Trial of Jeff David is a true crime podcast about former slaves falsely accused of murder in the 1800s.
—PCMAG, 27 Feb. 2025
The number of true crime weekly listeners has reached 19 million, surpassing sports and news as the third largest category in podcasts.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2025
Ellen Pompeo is taking a break from the world of medical procedurals to try her hand at true crime.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 19 Feb. 2025
Algorithms took over, and streamers seemed to value nonfiction primarily about four things: true crime, cults, sports, and celebrities.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 15 Feb. 2025
But on true crime TikTok, the way online sleuthing actually helped emboldened many accounts to start getting directly involved in solving ongoing cases.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2025
Netflix is satisfying every true crime fan's never-ending craving for more content with the release of American Murder: Gabby Petito, a docuseries that will examine what really happened behind the scenes before the 22-year-old was killed by her boyfriend.
—Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025
The true crime documentary series, just picked up by DR Sales for global distribution, will be introduced to world buyers on Feb. 17 at the European Film Market in Berlin.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2025
The Trial of Jeff David is a true crime podcast about former slaves falsely accused of murder in the 1800s.
—PCMAG, 27 Feb. 2025
The number of true crime weekly listeners has reached 19 million, surpassing sports and news as the third largest category in podcasts.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2025
Ellen Pompeo is taking a break from the world of medical procedurals to try her hand at true crime.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 19 Feb. 2025
Algorithms took over, and streamers seemed to value nonfiction primarily about four things: true crime, cults, sports, and celebrities.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 15 Feb. 2025
But on true crime TikTok, the way online sleuthing actually helped emboldened many accounts to start getting directly involved in solving ongoing cases.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2025
Netflix is satisfying every true crime fan's never-ending craving for more content with the release of American Murder: Gabby Petito, a docuseries that will examine what really happened behind the scenes before the 22-year-old was killed by her boyfriend.
—Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025
The true crime documentary series, just picked up by DR Sales for global distribution, will be introduced to world buyers on Feb. 17 at the European Film Market in Berlin.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to true crime
Cite this Entry
“True crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/true%20crime. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share