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 noun
a 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
As true crime podcasts, TV shows, books and online content continue to prove popular, cases never truly fade from the spotlight.Bethany Bruner

Examples of true crime in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The case already has the potential to be like a true crime podcast that unfolds in real-time. Peter Suciu, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024 In the world of Danish true crime, one name looms large over all the rest: Dagmar Overbye. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2024 And even some genres that have proved to be remarkably durable, such as true crime, have forced producers like Bungalow to get creative as the competition intensifies. Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024 There are big historical dramas, avant-garde comedies, dual-reality science fiction series, cheeky period romps, true crime, personal tales in political frameworks, an eccentric comic mystery. Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024 The craze is nothing new in the world of true crime. Alicia Park, CNN, 26 Nov. 2024 Send shivers up your spine with lots of true crime. Shivani Gonzalez, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024 Others to have amassed solid viewership include BBC series Gunpowder, which starred Kit Harington and aired in 2017, and Channel 5 true crime series Missing or Murdered from five years ago. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Nov. 2024 The 30 best true crime podcasts of all time, ranked When was JonBenèt's body discovered? Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of true crime was in 1923

Dictionary Entries Near true crime

Cite this Entry

“True crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/true%20crime. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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