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

Dixon, a Republican from Newport Beach, also argued that doxxing isn’t considered a hate crime in California — referencing a 2022 hate crime report from California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office — and that the bill raises free speech concerns. —Calmatters, The Mercury News, 27 June 2024

Police have recommended that the incident be considered a hate crime by prosecutors. —Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 24 June 2024

Last year, an Oregon man was sentenced to three years in prison for federal hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people in Boise. —Samuel O’Neal, Idaho Statesman, 24 June 2024

An antisemitic bigot yelling profanities threw a bag of dog poop into a stranger’s vehicle in a disturbing SoHo hate crime, police said Sunday. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 23 June 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