cold case

American

[kohld keys] / ˈkoʊld ˈkeɪs /

noun

a criminal investigation that has remained unsolved for an extended period of time.

This year's award recipient is a state trooper whose work helped close a cold case from 1983.

Etymology

Origin of cold case

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In recent years, when a new break in a cold case makes headlines, it’s often because of updated genealogy tools or forensic detection technology.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

Four moms teamed up during the pandemic to solve a cold case murder, becoming close friends.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

Last week, the Nanterre cold case unit launched a broader investigation into Pelicot's "criminal trajectories" to identify other possible crimes and victims.

From Barron's • Jan. 19, 2026

The breakthrough comes just weeks after the release of the HBO docuseries The Yogurt Shop Murders last month, which revisited the cold case.

From Salon • Sep. 28, 2025

"A cold case is a case that hasn't been solved. My dad told me that while we were watching a mystery show on TV."

From "Scream for Ice Cream: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #2" by Carolyn Keene

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023