criminology

[ krim-uh-nol-uh-jee ]

noun

1. the study of crime and criminals: a branch of sociology.

criminology

/ ˌkrɪmɪnəˈlɒdʒɪkəl; ˌkrɪmɪˈnɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. See penology
   the scientific study of crime, criminal behaviour, law enforcement, etc See also penology

Derived Forms

• criminological, adjective
• ˌcrimiˈnologist, noun
• ˌcriminoˈlogically, adverb

Other Words From

• crim·i·no·log·i·cal [krim-, uh, -nl-, oj, -i-k, uh, l], crimi·no·logic adjective
• crimi·no·logi·cal·ly adverb
• crimi·nolo·gist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of criminology¹

1855–60; < Latin crīmin- (stem of crīmen; crime ) + -o- + -logy

Word History and Origins

Origin of criminology¹

C19: from Latin crimin- crime , -logy

Example Sentences

There’s never been a similar measure anywhere to study in order to understand the likely outcomes of Question 2, said Aaron Chalfin, a professor of criminology at the University of Pennsylvania.

From FiveThirtyEight

These kinds of overlaps between cybercrimes and physical law-breaking are more common than one might think, Federico Varese, a professor of criminology at the University of Oxford, told The Daily Beast.

From The Daily Beast

The anti-corruption prosecutor completed her Master’s degree last year, with a specialism in criminology.

From Time

Experts in criminology and policing I spoke with earlier this week cautioned me that regardless of its eventual verdict, the trial shouldn’t be thought of as a referendum on policing.

From FiveThirtyEight

He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Texas at Arlington and later received his MBA from the University of Dallas.

From Washington Post

These conclusions unnerved Kelley and eventually led him to change the focus of his career from psychiatry to criminology.

From The Daily Beast

Eugene Francois Vidocq has long been known as the father of modern criminology.

From The Daily Beast

Lorie Fridell is an associate professor in the department of criminology at the University of South Florida.

From The Daily Beast

No one with even the slightest knowledge of sociology and criminology will be disposed to deny such a statement.

From Project Gutenberg

You are a scientist working in the criminology laboratory of a large metropolitan city.

From Project Gutenberg

This is so important that I should hold it conscienceless to engage in the profession of criminology without knowing the dialects.

From Project Gutenberg

This message from my pen is not a work on criminology or penology.

From Project Gutenberg

I'm not like Ashe here, who is crammed with criminology, but has all sorts of other culture as well.

From Project Gutenberg