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Vocabulary: Crime & Criminals

by Rebecca
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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

taking someone away by force,

abduction demanding money for their safe return

setting fire to a building, cars or property

arson on purpose arsonist

assassination killing a famous person or public figure assassin

assault attacking someone physically assailant

marrying someone when you are already

bigamy married to another person bigamist

threatening to reveal someone’s secrets if

blackmail a lot of money is not paid blackmailer*

detonating an explosive device with the

bombing plan of harming people or property bomber

giving money or granting favors to

bribery influence another person’s decisions or briber*
behavior

breaking into a house in order to steal

burglary something burglar

treating a child badly in a physical,

child abuse emotional, or sexual way child abuser

behaving illegally and dishonestly;

corruption especially those in power

doing something illegal that can be

crime punished by law criminal

doing something illegal over the Internet cyber criminal

cybercrime or a computer system hacker**

domestic violence behaving violently inside the home

driving with too much alcohol in your

drunk driving blood drunk driver

stealing large amounts of money that you

embezzlement are responsible for, often over a period of embezzler
time

spying, to obtain political or military

espionage information spy

illegally copying documents, money, etc.

forgery to cheat people forger

getting money from people by cheating con artist

fraud them fraud

killing on purpose a large number of

genocide people, especially from a particular group
or area

taking control of a plane, train etc by

hijacking force, often to meet political demands hijacker

not stopping to help a person hurt in an

hit and run accident caused by you

homicide killing another person on purpose

being violent or aggressive on purpose;

hooliganism often used to describe youth hooligan
 identity theft using someone else’s personal
information for one’s own gain

taking someone away by force, often

kidnapping demanding money for their safe return kidnapper

damaging someone’s reputation by

libel writing lies about them

taking things illegally and by force, during

looting a riot, war, etc. looter

killing someone without legal process,

lynching often by hanging, often by an angry mob

manslaughter killing someone by accident

attacking someone with a plan to rob

mugging them mugger

murder killing someone on purpose murderer

perjury lying in court, while under oath

stealing wallets, money, etc. from people’s

pickpocketing pockets in crowded places pickpocketer

stealing small quantities of goods over

pilfering time

poaching hunting illegally poacher

rape forcing someone to have sex rapist

riot causing a noisy, violent public disturbance rioter

stealing large amounts of money with

robbery force or violence from a bank, store, etc. robber

shoplifting stealing something from a store shoplifter

damaging someone’s reputation by

slander speaking lies about them

taking things secretly in or out of a place,

smuggling country, jail, etc. smuggler

speeding driving above the speed limit

using violence, threats, or fear, usually for

terrorism political purposes terrorist

theft stealing, in general thief

trading something illegal like drugs,

trafficking people, etc.

betraying one’s country by helping its

treason enemies traitor

entering another person’s area; hurting

trespassing people/damaging property through force trespasser

destroying private or public property

vandalism purposely vandal

secretly watching naked people or sexual

voyeurism 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.

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 Test your understanding of this English lesson
Test your understanding of the English lesson by answering these questions.
You will get the answers and your score at the end of the quiz.

Quiz

You got 10 correct out of 10.

100 :D

1. What is "manslaughter" ?
Setting fire to a building on purpose.
Killing a person by accident.
Stealing large amounts of money placed in your care.
Not declaring your income to the government.

2. What is "blackmail" ?
Forcing a person to have sex.
Stealing something from a shop.
Demanding money by threatening to reveal someone's secrets.
Killing someone by accident.
Putting garbage or human waste in someone's mailbox.

3. Which word means "stealing" , in general?

robbery
theft
burglary
rape

4. What is an "arsonist" ?
A person who forces another person to have sex.
A person who takes goods from a shop without paying.
A person who likes to drink arsenic.
A person who sets fire to a building on purpose.

5. Which word describes the crime of breaking into a home to steal?

burglary
embezzlement
shoplifting
manslaughter

6. Which word describes a person who forces sex on someone else?

an arsonist
a rapist
a robber
a sexist
a cosby

7. What is the crime of killing a person on purpose?

blackmail
manslaughter
murder
burglary
burgery

8. Which word describes a white-collar crime specifically done by people who steal
large amounts of money that have been placed in their care?
robbery
theft
blackmail
embezzlement

9. Which kind of theft involves stealing money from a bank or shop using violence or
force?
shoplifting
robbery
burglary
 trespassing

10. Who is the person who steals goods from a shop without paying for them?
a shoplifter
a rapist
an arsonist
a murderer
a ryder

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