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
There is a recently burgeoning genre of documentaries — usually either celebrity or true crime in focus — driven not by aesthetic or storytelling imperatives but by (self-)promotional machinery.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 Dec. 2025
Featuring more than 100 episodes spread out over seven seasons, this true crime series has covered famous cases like Jodi Arias, Scott Peterson, Amy Fisher, and the Green River Killer.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
View gallery - 4 images Your next favorite true crime podcast might have some new forensics jargon to make sense of.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 20 Dec. 2025
Within days, it was hurled into the internet's true crime universe, Andrea May Sahouri reports, with influencers far and wide sharing posts, live streams and even dissections of timelines and evidence, bringing national attention to Park and a reeling rural Michigan community.
—Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Her investigation considers the history of several doomed innocents, beginning with Lana Clarkson, a B-movie queen who was brutally murdered and subsequently conscripted to the annals of true crime.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Topics range from hard-hitting political journalism and true crime to sports fare and lighthearted human interest stories, providing potential topics for filmmakers of all stripes.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 18 Dec. 2025
Wyles will be founder and Creative Director at Nuntius, which will focus on history, science, true crime and factual entertainment genres for broadcasters, streamers and digital platforms.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 24 Nov. 2025
In September, 1639, John Winthrop, the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, recorded in his journal a dreadful tale of Puritan true crime.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
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Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 Dec. 2025
Featuring more than 100 episodes spread out over seven seasons, this true crime series has covered famous cases like Jodi Arias, Scott Peterson, Amy Fisher, and the Green River Killer.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
View gallery - 4 images Your next favorite true crime podcast might have some new forensics jargon to make sense of.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 20 Dec. 2025
Within days, it was hurled into the internet's true crime universe, Andrea May Sahouri reports, with influencers far and wide sharing posts, live streams and even dissections of timelines and evidence, bringing national attention to Park and a reeling rural Michigan community.
—Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Her investigation considers the history of several doomed innocents, beginning with Lana Clarkson, a B-movie queen who was brutally murdered and subsequently conscripted to the annals of true crime.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Topics range from hard-hitting political journalism and true crime to sports fare and lighthearted human interest stories, providing potential topics for filmmakers of all stripes.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 18 Dec. 2025
Wyles will be founder and Creative Director at Nuntius, which will focus on history, science, true crime and factual entertainment genres for broadcasters, streamers and digital platforms.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 24 Nov. 2025
In September, 1639, John Winthrop, the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, recorded in his journal a dreadful tale of Puritan true crime.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“True crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/true%20crime. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.
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