victimless crime

American

noun

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

victimless crime British

/ ˈvɪktɪmləs /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

victimless crime Cultural

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.

Etymology

Origin of victimless crime

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

My insurers paid out, a replacement car was bought, but police are keen to stress this is not a victimless crime.

From BBC

“It’s also important to remember that cargo theft is not a victimless crime,” McDonnell said.

From Los Angeles Times

TfL says fare evasion is "not a victimless crime" and "robs Londoners of vital investment", adding that it was "committed to reducing the current rate of fare evasion to 1.5% by 2030".

From BBC

"It's not a victimless crime. Somebody always pays the price for it down the line. And for us, it's the staff in here," she adds.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023