Vocabulary: Crime & Criminals

 Vocabulary: Crime & Criminals

In English, there are a lot of specific words for different types of crimes and the criminals who commit them. Unfortunately, the list of crimes and criminals is long! Because the words have specific legal meanings, only a short, basic definition is given below. You may wish to download and print out the list, and write the correct translation of the words in your own language. This would give you the exact meaning.

CRIME DEFINITION CRIMINAL

abduction taking someone away by force, demanding money for their safe return

arson setting fire to a building, cars or property on purpose arsonist

assassination killing a famous person or public figure assassin

assault attacking someone physically assailant

bigamy marrying someone when you are already married to another person bigamist

blackmail threatening to reveal someone’s secrets if a lot of money is not paid blackmailer*

bombing detonating an explosive device with the plan of harming people or property bomber

bribery giving money or granting favors to influence another person’s decisions or behavior briber*

burglary breaking into a house in order to steal something burglar

child abuse treating a child badly in a physical, emotional, or sexual way child abuser

corruption behaving illegally and dishonestly; especially those in power

crime doing something illegal that can be punished by law criminal

cybercrime doing something illegal over the Internet or a computer system cyber criminal

hacker**

domestic violence behaving violently inside the home

drunk driving driving with too much alcohol in your blood drunk driver

embezzlement stealing large amounts of money that you are responsible for, often over a period of time embezzler

espionage spying, to obtain political or military information spy

forgery illegally copying documents, money, etc. to cheat people forger

fraud getting money from people by cheating them con artist

fraud

genocide killing on purpose a large number of people, especially from a particular group or area

hijacking taking control of a plane, train etc by force, often to meet political demands hijacker

hit and run not stopping to help a person hurt in an accident caused by you

homicide killing another person on purpose

hooliganism being violent or aggressive on purpose; often used to describe youth hooligan

identity theft using someone else’s personal information for one’s own gain

kidnapping taking someone away by force, often demanding money for their safe return kidnapper

libel damaging someone’s reputation by writing lies about them

looting taking things illegally and by force, during a riot, war, etc. looter

lynching killing someone without legal process, often by hanging, often by an angry mob

manslaughter killing someone by accident

mugging attacking someone with a plan to rob them mugger

murder killing someone on purpose murderer

perjury lying in court, while under oath

pickpocketing stealing wallets, money, etc. from people’s pockets in crowded places pickpocketer

pilfering stealing small quantities of goods over time

poaching hunting illegally poacher

rape forcing someone to have sex rapist

riot causing a noisy, violent public disturbance rioter

robbery stealing large amounts of money with force or violence from a bank, store, etc. robber

shoplifting stealing something from a store shoplifter

slander damaging someone’s reputation by speaking lies about them

smuggling taking things secretly in or out of a place, country, jail, etc. smuggler

speeding driving above the speed limit

terrorism using violence, threats, or fear, usually for political purposes terrorist

theft stealing, in general thief

trafficking trading something illegal like drugs, people, etc.

treason betraying one’s country by helping its enemies traitor

trespassing entering another person’s area; hurting people/damaging property through force trespasser

vandalism destroying private or public property purposely vandal

voyeurism secretly watching naked people or sexual acts & getting sexually excited voyeur

* uncommon

** hacker does not technically mean a cyber criminal, but the word is often used to describe those who commit computer crimes.