victimless crime

American  

noun

1. a legal offense, as prostitution or gambling, to which all participating parties have consented.

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victimless crime British  

/ ˈvɪktɪmləs /

noun

1. a type of crime, such as insurance fraud, regarded by some people as being excusable because the victim is the state or an organization, rather than an individual

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victimless crime Cultural  

1. A term sometimes used for various acts that are considered crimes under the law but apparently have no victim. One such crime is prostitution, which is viewed by some as a commercial exchange between two consenting adults.

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Etymology

Origin of victimless crime

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: "Shoplifting is not a victimless crime and the mayor fully supports the Met Police's data-driven and targeted approach to tackling prolific offenders."

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

The New South Wales government's environment department said that "the illegal wildlife trade is not a victimless crime", harming conservation and stripping the state "and Australia of its unique biodiversity".

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

Detective: You ever hear of a victimless crime?

From Washington Post • Jan. 20, 2023

We are not here to beat up on ol' Bat-fleck although in the larger scheme of things, that would be a victimless crime, relatively speaking.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2022

“The biggest misconception about labor exploitation is that it’s a victimless crime and that couldn’t be further from the truth,” said Ronnie Martinez, special agent in charge at Homeland Security Investigations in the Carolinas.

From Washington Times • Oct. 26, 2021