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 comedic Hulu murder-mystery series follows neighbors Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez), who bond over their love for true crime and launch a podcast detailing all the murder investigations in their ritzy New York City building.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
And true crime just so happened to be one of those things.
—Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
Riefenstahl deftly undertakes the type of media autopsy usually reserved for the most fiendish of true crime cover-ups.
—Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
FilmRise has inked deals for two true crime series that will explore the psychological elements driving fatal crimes.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Netflix has become known for creating documentaries about unbelievable true crime stories, but Unknown Number on Netflix may just take the cake.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025
The New York native has landed a true crime series, 50 Ways to Catch a Killer, at Fox Nation.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The Cape Fear series adaptation — created, written, and showrun by Nick Antosca — is billed as a tense, Hitchcockian thriller and an examination of America’s obsession with true crime in the 21st century.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
A couple of years ago, the true crime show Cold Justice reached out to Lake Station Police Detective Steven Peek about one of the cold cases after a family member contacted the show.
—Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
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Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
And true crime just so happened to be one of those things.
—Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
Riefenstahl deftly undertakes the type of media autopsy usually reserved for the most fiendish of true crime cover-ups.
—Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
FilmRise has inked deals for two true crime series that will explore the psychological elements driving fatal crimes.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Netflix has become known for creating documentaries about unbelievable true crime stories, but Unknown Number on Netflix may just take the cake.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025
The New York native has landed a true crime series, 50 Ways to Catch a Killer, at Fox Nation.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The Cape Fear series adaptation — created, written, and showrun by Nick Antosca — is billed as a tense, Hitchcockian thriller and an examination of America’s obsession with true crime in the 21st century.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
A couple of years ago, the true crime show Cold Justice reached out to Lake Station Police Detective Steven Peek about one of the cold cases after a family member contacted the show.
—Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“True crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/true%20crime. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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