English Reference
Noun

criminology

n.
C1 Advanced US /ˌkɹɪmɪˈnɑɫədʒi/ UK /kɹˌɪmɪnˈɒlədʒi/ crim·i·nol·o·gy UK spelling criminologies

n.the study of crime and criminals. It looks at why people commit crimes and how society can stop them.

n.the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behaviour. It encompasses both the social and psychological factors that lead to crime and the legal systems designed to prevent it.


SIMPLE

She decided to study criminology to help solve crimes.

CONTEXTUAL

The university offers a degree in criminology that combines psychology with the legal system to understand criminal behaviour.

COMPLEX

Advances in criminology have shifted the focus from purely punitive measures to rehabilitation programs that address the underlying social and economic factors contributing to recidivism.

Cybercrime groups now integrate AI into almost every operational phase, says Dr Andrew Childs, a criminology lecturer at Griffith University.

The Guardian· 14 Aug 2026

From criminal + -logy.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated