organized crime

noun

: a group of professional criminals who work together as part of a powerful and secret organization
He has links to organized crime.

Examples of organized crime in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Retailers report organized crime groups increasingly using a complex system of gift card fraud, phone scams, and supply chain theft, according to the National Retail Federation. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026 Billups is accused of participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games tied to La Cosa Nostra organized crime families that cheated unsuspecting gamblers out of at least $7 million. — Ed White, Twin Cities, 29 June 2026 Former Chicago organized crime boss Sam Giancana was shot to death in the basement of his home in Oak Park. — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026 After two decades of drug war violence and instability, a majority of Mexicans say in recent polls that organized crime is the country’s biggest challenge. — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for organized crime

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Organized crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/organized%20crime. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Legal Definition

organized crime

noun
: criminal activity on the part of an organized and extensive group of people compare racketeering
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster