What does criminally mean?
'Criminally' is an adverb with two distinct registers of use. In its primary, formal sense it means 'in relation to crime' or 'in a way that constitutes a criminal offence': a person may be criminally liable, criminally negligent, or found criminally insane, meaning their conduct attracts criminal rather than merely civil responsibility. In everyday speech, however, the word has taken on a lively figurative role, acting as an intensifier that suggests something is shockingly or outrageously extreme — a meal might be 'criminally expensive', a film 'criminally underrated', or a bargain 'criminally cheap'. This playful usage implies a kind of moral outrage without any actual wrongdoing being involved. Derived from 'criminal', which traces back through Latin crimen (an accusation or charge), the word carries connotations of guilt and judgement even when used humorously, making it a versatile term that spans courtroom language and casual commentary alike.
In a way that relates to or constitutes crime; illegally.
"She argued that her client's actions were not criminally wrongful, merely careless."
(Informal, figurative) To an outrageous or shocking degree; used hyperbolically as an intensifier.
"That café charges criminally high prices for a cup of coffee."
This figurative sense is informal and should not be used in legal contexts.
'Criminally underrated' has become internet shorthand for anything unfairly overlooked — turning a legal adverb into pop culture's favorite word for injustice.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of criminally
'Criminally' derives from 'criminal', which comes from the Latin 'criminalis', formed on 'crimen', meaning an accusation, charge, or offence. The Latin root passed into Old French before entering English, where 'criminal' has been attested since the medieval period. The adverb 'criminally' developed alongside it, and its figurative intensifying use ('criminally underrated') is a more recent development. Related English words sharing the same root include 'crime', 'incriminate', and 'discriminate', the last reflecting the broader original sense of 'crimen' as a distinguishing judgement or charge.
Related word forms
How criminally is actually used
The informal, hyperbolic sense ('criminally good', 'criminally cheap') is common in casual speech, journalism, and online commentary but would be avoided in formal legal writing, where only the literal sense applies.
Easily confused with criminally
'Criminally' is an adverb describing how something is done in relation to crime, while 'criminology' is the scientific study of crime and criminals.