crime
n. C / Un. an illegal act that the police can punish you for. It is something against the law, like stealing or hurting someone.
n. an action or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law. Often used collectively to refer to illegal activities in a specific area or period.
The police are working hard to reduce crime in the city.
Stealing a car is a serious crime that can lead to several years in prison.
Sociologists often debate whether high levels of poverty directly correlate with an increase in property crime or if the relationship is mediated by other systemic factors.
From Middle English cryme, crime, from Old French crime, crimne, from Latin crīmen. Displaced native Old English firen.
Uncountable when referring to illegal activity in general; countable when referring to a specific illegal act.
He committed a big crimeHe committed a serious crimeIn English, 'crime' typically collocates with 'serious' or 'violent' rather than 'big'.