hate crime

noun

: 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 color, creed, gender, or sexual orientation)

Examples of hate crime in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Other community leaders have also voiced dismay that hate crime charges had not been filed. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024

Anti-Jewish hate crimes reported to police across 20 major cities in 2023 rose 48% to a new record, the center said. —Russell Contreras, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024

Police in Maryland are investigating an attack on a rabbi as a hate crime after a man attacked with a wooden stake, authorities said. —Jon Haworth, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2024

The department's hate crimes taskforce is investigating, a spokesperson with the department's media relations team said. —CBS News, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

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