IPA: /ˌkrɪmɪˈnælɪstɪks/
KK: /ˌkrɪmɪˈnælɪstɪks/
The scientific study and analysis of evidence related to crimes, often used in criminal investigations.
The detective relied on criminalistics to solve the case by analyzing the evidence found at the crime scene.
Criminalistics is formed from "criminalis" (from Latin, meaning pertaining to crime) and "-istics" (from Greek "-istikos", meaning pertaining to or related to). The word refers to the scientific study and analysis of crime and criminal behavior.
Think of 'criminal' as relating to crime and '-istics' as pertaining to a field of study. This helps you remember that criminalistics is the study related to crime.