NOTE: refers to something that is against the law. Studies show a decrease in crime over the past two decades. He served six years in prison for a crime he did not commit. This legislation would reclassify these illegal acts as hate crimes. In that era it was not a crime to dump raw sewage into the bay. He is being tried by an international tribunal for his crimes against humanity. (illegal act against many others) WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1NOTE: implies that the action should be regarded as illegal, even though it is not. It was considered a crime against civilization for the Taliban to destroy the giant Buddha statue. The environmentalists view this policy as a crime against the old growth forests. WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 2NOTE: usually refers to a situation or state of affairs, not a specific act. NOTE: unlike Senses 1 and 2, does not imply something of a truly serious nature. It's a crime to waste good food, let's save it for leftovers tomorrow. It was a crime to visit Hawaii and spend most of the time indoors at meetings. It'll be an unforgivable crime if you don't visit Aunt Jane when you are in Chicago.