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

An Indianapolis woman who stabbed an Asian student in her head multiple times has been sentenced to six years in prison for the hate crime. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024

Nearly half of the total hate crimes were racial, with Black people disproportionately targeted. —Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024

States with strong laws protecting LGBT residents, strong protections against hate crimes, and inclusive policies for undocumented immigrants were much likelier to have strong protections for animals. —Sigal Samuel, Vox, 3 Dec. 2024

According to the Human Rights Campaign, over 20% of hate crimes in the U.S. are associated with anti-LGBTQ stigma. —Dave Wessner, Forbes, 1 Dec. 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