crime
gb/kɹˈaɪm/ us/kɹˈaɪm/
A2
English
~ 1200
bűncselekmény, bűn, vétek
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] commits [a crime]
The police are investigating a serious crime in the area.
A rendőrség egy súlyos bűncselekményt vizsgál a környéken.
Stealing from a store is a crime.
Boltból lopni bűncselekmény.
He was arrested for committing a violent crime.
Organized crime has been growing in the city.
The detective worked hard to solve the crime.
Learner examples
Stealing is a crime.
Lopni bűncselekmény.
He went to jail for his crime.
Börtönbe került a bűncselekménye miatt.
The police want to stop crime.
She is not guilty of any crime.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'crime' with 'sin'; 'sin' is used in a religious context, while 'crime' refers to breaking the law.
Meaning
An act against the law
Collocations
commit a crime
|serious crime
|violent crime
|organized crime
|solve a crime
Synonyms
offense (More formal legal term for a violation of the law.)
|
felony (Specifically refers to a serious crime, especially in U.S. law.)
Antonyms
lawfulness (The quality of following the law; opposite of committing a crime.)
|
innocence (State of not being guilty of a crime.)
Themes
law
|justice
|society
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Definition
An action that is not allowed by law and can be punished.
An act that is prohibited by law and punishable by a government authority.
NOUN
B1
2
Destroying the rainforest is a crime against nature.
Az esőerdők pusztítása bűn a természet ellen.
It's a crime to waste so much food when people are hungry.
Bűn ennyi ételt pazarolni, amikor emberek éheznek.
Many believe that denying education to children is a crime against humanity.
Learner examples
It is a crime to hurt animals.
Bűn bántani az állatokat.
Some think it is a crime to waste water.
Egyesek szerint bűn pazarolni a vizet.
Hurting people for fun is a crime.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this sense in legal contexts; remember that in this meaning it can be figurative and not about actual law-breaking.
Meaning
A morally bad action
Collocations
a crime against humanity
|a crime against nature
|it's a crime to [verb]
Synonyms
wrongdoing (General term for morally or ethically bad actions.)
|
injustice (Focuses on unfairness or violation of rights rather than legal status.)
Antonyms
virtue (High moral standard; opposite of moral wrongdoing.)
Themes
ethics
|society
|emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Something very bad or unfair, even if it is not illegal.
An action or situation that is considered seriously wrong or harmful, even if it is not against the law.
Grammar
Dictionary form
crime
IPA
GB/kɹˈaɪm/
US/kɹˈaɪm/
Syllables & stress
crime (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (crime)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: crime
- Plural: crime, crimes
Word family
Forms
crimes
noun
Core family
criminal
adjective A2
Related words
criminally
adverb
criminalize
verb
Negative and opposite forms
decriminalize
verb
Advanced or less common
criminality
noun
criminalization
noun
criminology
noun
criminologist
noun
Expressions
commit a crime
1/kəmˈɪt ə kɹˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
Do something illegal
To do something that is against the law.
Examples
- He committed a crime by stealing the car.
- Anyone who commits a crime must face justice.
crime rate
1/kɹˈaɪm ɹˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
Number of crimes in an area
The number of crimes that happen in a place during a certain time.
Examples
- The city's crime rate has dropped this year.
- High unemployment often leads to a higher crime rate.
organized crime
1/ˈɔɹɡənˌaɪzd kɹˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
Criminal activity by groups
Illegal activities done by powerful and planned groups.
Examples
- The police are cracking down on organized crime.
- He was linked to an organized crime network.
crime of passion
1/kɹˈaɪm əv pˈæʃən/
fixed phrase
Crime caused by strong emotion
A violent act done suddenly because of strong feelings like anger or jealousy.
Examples
- The murder was ruled a crime of passion.
- The murder was ruled a crime of passion after evidence showed it happened in a jealous rage.
- Crimes of passion often happen without planning.
- He was acquitted because the killing was considered a crime of passion.
white-collar crime
1/wˈaɪt kˈɑlɚ kɹˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
non-violent business or financial crime
Crime like fraud or stealing money that is done in business or professional work, usually without violence.
Examples
- He was arrested for white-collar crime involving fraud.
- The documentary explores major cases of white-collar crime.
- White-collar crimes can cause huge financial losses.
- He was jailed for white-collar crimes including fraud and embezzlement.
- White-collar crime can cost companies millions of dollars.