What does criminy mean?
Criminy is an informal interjection expressing surprise, dismay, or exasperation, roughly equivalent to "good grief" or "for goodness' sake." It belongs to the family of minced oaths — altered forms of religious swear words invented to let speakers vent strong emotion without taking the Lord's name in vain, much like "gosh," "golly," and "gee." The word dates back centuries and remains most familiar in American English, where it often carries a folksy, slightly old-fashioned charm. Today it is frequently deployed with a touch of humor or irony, evoking comic strips, sitcoms, and retro Americana more than genuine outrage. Because it is inoffensive by design, criminy is a useful word for anyone who wants to express astonishment colorfully without resorting to actual profanity, making it a small but durable piece of the English language's long tradition of polite swearing.
interjectionAn exclamation of surprise, alarm, or exasperation, used as a mild euphemism in place of a stronger oath.
- An exclamation of surprise, shock, or exasperation used as a mild minced oath.
""Criminy! I left my keys on the roof of the car again.""
"Criminy, that was a close call on the highway!"
""Oh criminy," she muttered, realizing she had sent the email to the entire company."
Criminy is what people started saying when they wanted to swear without actually swearing — a verbal fig leaf that has been saving blushes since at least the 1600s.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of criminy
Criminy arose as a minced oath, most likely in the seventeenth century, formed by altering a stronger exclamation invoking Christ into a softened, unrecognizable form. Its exact derivation is uncertain, which is typical of such euphemisms, whose very purpose was to obscure their blasphemous originals. The word became established in American English and stands alongside cousins like "gosh" and "golly" as part of English's rich stock of polite substitutes for profanity.
How criminy is actually used
Criminy is informal and somewhat old-fashioned, though it survives in colloquial American speech and is often used playfully or ironically today. It functions as a minced oath — a softened substitute for stronger religious profanity — so it carries no offensive weight and is generally safe in mixed company.
Easily confused with criminy
Cremini is a type of brown mushroom, while criminy is an exclamation of surprise.
Crime is an unlawful act, whereas criminy is merely an interjection that happens to resemble it in spelling.