white-collar crime

[ˈwaɪt ˈkɑːlər kraɪm]
nounpl: white-collar crimes
crime de colarinho branco
1. Non-violent crime committed by business professionals or government officials, typically involving fraud, embezzlement, bribery, or insider trading for financial gain
The executive was convicted of white-collar crime for embezzling company funds over five years.
O executivo foi condenado por crime de colarinho branco por desviar fundos da empresa durante cinco anos.
2. Financial crime perpetrated by individuals in positions of trust within corporations or institutions
White-collar crimes often cause significant economic damage to businesses and investors.
Os crimes de colarinho branco frequentemente causam danos econômicos significativos aos negócios e investidores.
The term reflects a distinction in Anglo-American legal systems between crimes committed by socioeconomically privileged professionals versus street-level offenders. In Brazil, white-collar crime has become increasingly prevalent in discussions of corruption (corrupção) and institutional fraud, particularly following high-profile cases involving politicians and business executives. The concept is closely tied to broader concerns about institutional integrity and economic crime in both countries.
NYC Slang
suit crime / insider job
Synonyms / Sinônimos
corporate crimefinancial crimeeconomic crimefraudembezzlement
Antonyms / Antônimos
violent crimestreet crimeblue-collar crime

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
crime de colarinho branco
Standard translation widely used in legal and media contexts
São Paulo
crime de colarinho branco / fraude corporativa
Commonly used in financial and business hub; fraude corporativa also frequent
Rio de Janeiro
crime de colarinho branco
Standard usage in legal proceedings and news media
Portugal
crime de colarinho branco / crime económico
Both terms used; crime económico more prevalent in official documents

Related Words

embezzlementfraudinsider tradingbriberymoney launderingtax evasioncorporate fraud

Related Idioms & Phrases

crime in a three-piece suit
stealing with a fountain pen
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