Phrase guide

cold case

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A criminal investigation that has not been solved after a considerable time but remains on the books and may be reopened when new evidence appears.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: criminology, government, human-sciences, law, law-enforcement, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A refrigerated display case used for selling items that are kept cold.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: literally

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 懸案 /悬案 (xuán'àn) — an old unsolved case
  • French: cold case — an old unsolved case
  • German: Cold Case — an old unsolved case
  • Hungarian: megoldatlan ügy — an old unsolved case
  • Hungarian: megoldatlan bűncselekmény — an old unsolved case
  • Hungarian: megoldatlan bűneset — an old unsolved case
  • Hungarian: függőben maradt ügy — an old unsolved case
  • Korean: 미제 사건 (mije sageon) — an old unsolved case
  • Swedish: kallt fall — an old unsolved case