criminology

noun

crim·​i·​nol·​o·​gy ˌkri-mə-ˈnä-lə-jē How to pronounce criminology (audio)
: the scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon, of criminals, and of penal treatment
criminological adjective
criminologically adverb
criminologist noun

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Criminology includes the study of all aspects of crime and law enforcement—criminal psychology, the social setting of crime, prohibition and prevention, investigation and detection, capture and punishment. Thus, many of the people involved—legislators, social workers, probation officers, judges, etc.—could possibly be considered criminologists, though the word usually refers only to scholars and researchers.

Examples of criminology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Both the fears and promises around algorithms in the courtroom assume judges are consistently using them Still, University of Pennsylvania criminology professor Richard Berk argues that human decision-makers can be just as flawed. Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 30 Oct. 2024 Valente is also trained in boxing and judo and graduated with a degree in criminology from Barry University. Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 29 Oct. 2024 Online majors include anthropology, environmental management, sport management and criminology, among many others. Doug Wintemute, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024 Cartoon by Will Santino Copy link to cartoon Copy link to cartoon Link copied Shop Shop Dennis Eady, a criminology scholar at Cardiff University, runs one of Britain’s remaining innocence projects. Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 29 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for criminology 

Word History

Etymology

Latin crīmin-, crīmen "accusation, crime" + -o- + -logy

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of criminology was in 1872

Dictionary Entries Near criminology

Cite this Entry

“Criminology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminology. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

criminology

noun
crim·​i·​nol·​o·​gy ˌkrim-ə-ˈnäl-ə-jē How to pronounce criminology (audio)
: a scientific study of crime, of criminals, and of their punishment or correction
criminological adjective
criminologist noun

Medical Definition

criminology

noun
crim·​i·​nol·​o·​gy ˌkrim-ə-ˈnäl-ə-jē How to pronounce criminology (audio)
plural criminologies
: the scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon, of criminals, and of penal treatment
criminological adjective
criminologically adverb
criminologist noun

Legal Definition

criminology

noun
crim·​i·​nol·​o·​gy ˌkri-mə-ˈnä-lə-jē How to pronounce criminology (audio)
: the scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon, of criminals, and of penal treatment
criminological adjective
criminologically adverb
criminologist noun

More from Merriam-Webster on criminology

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