hate crime

noun

Synonyms of hate crimenext
: 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 race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability)

Examples of hate crime in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Those records could shed light on circumstances surrounding recent stabbings, hate crime incidents and internal discussions about Border Patrol. Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 31 Dec. 2025 What do prosecutors say about the hate crime allegation? Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025 Payton was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on charges related to the assault, which police said was being investigated as a hate crime. Richard Ramos, CBS News, 30 Dec. 2025 Payton had appeared for a mid-November preliminary hearing on charges of assault by means of force intended to cause great bodily injury and resisting peace officers, as well as hate crime charges in the attack. Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 29 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hate crime

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hate crime was in 1960

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Cite this Entry

“Hate crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hate%20crime. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on hate crime

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