criminality

noun

crim·​i·​nal·​i·​ty ˌkri-mə-ˈna-lə-tē 

1

: the quality or state of being criminal

2

: criminal activity

urban criminality

Synonyms

• crime
• lawbreaking
• lawlessness

Examples of criminality in a Sentence

a report on the drop in criminality in large urban centers

Recent Examples on the Web

Much of the reason for this can be traced back to the dark web and the underground criminal marketplaces that trade within it, where all the tools required to open up this type of criminality are laid bare for anyone with the cryptocurrency to purchase it. —Davey Winder, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024

And an already weary donor community sees risks in the growing militancy and criminality in the camps. —Nasir Uddin, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2024

The New York Times: The end of the Trump cases leaves the limits on presidential criminality unclear. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 26 Nov. 2024

World Liberty Financial didn’t respond to my requests for comments about Herro’s business record, the potential for conflicts of interest by Trump, the roles of his family members in the firm, or the FBI’s judgment about the criminality of crypto. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

criminal entry 1 + -ity, perhaps after French criminalité

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

criminality

noun

crim·​i·​nal·​i·​ty ˌkri-mə-ˈna-lə-tē 

1

: the quality or state of being criminal

can't understand the criminality of his act

2

: crime sense 3

violent criminality