English Reference
Noun

criminality

n.
C1 Advanced US /ˌkɹɪməˈnæɫɪti/ UK /kɹˌɪmɪnˈælɪti/ crim·i·nal·i·ty UK spelling criminalities

n.the quality of being a criminal or the act of doing something illegal. It describes the state of being against the law.

n.the state or quality of being a criminal; the commission of a crime or illegal act. Often used in legal or sociological contexts to describe systemic behavior.


SIMPLE

The government is trying to reduce criminality in the city.

CONTEXTUAL

Sociologists study the factors that contribute to criminality, such as poverty and lack of education.

COMPLEX

The report highlights a significant correlation between rising levels of urban poverty and the increased criminality observed in the district over the last decade.

Serious allegations of criminality or grave impropriety cannot properly be left hanging over individuals in that way.

BBC News· 21 Aug 2026

Our BBC team has travelled across the UK - including to Plymouth, Rochdale, Shrewsbury, Newport and Bradford - exposing what we have found to be brazen criminality on the High Street.

BBC News· 7 Jun 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated