Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

cold-case

noun

/koʊld keɪs/

Definition

A cold case refers to a criminal investigation that has not been solved and is no longer actively pursued by law enforcement, often due to a lack of evidence or leads.

Examples

The detective decided to revisit the cold case after new forensic technology became available.
Many cold cases remain open, waiting for the right clue to emerge.

Meaning

Cold cases usually involve serious crimes such as homicides or missing persons where new evidence, technologies, or tips could potentially reignite the investigation.