Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

criminal

[ krim-uh-nl ]

adjective

  1. of the nature of or involving crime.

    Synonyms: ,

    Antonyms:

  2. guilty of crime.

    Antonyms:

  3. Law. of or relating to crime or its punishment:

    a criminal proceeding.

  4. senseless; foolish:

    It's criminal to waste so much good food.

  5. exorbitant; grossly overpriced:

    They charge absolutely criminal prices.



noun

  1. a person guilty or convicted of a crime.

    Synonyms: , , , , , , ,

criminal

/ ˈɪɪə /

noun

  1. a person charged with and convicted of crime
  2. a person who commits crimes for a living
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. of, involving, or guilty of crime
  2. prenominal of or relating to crime or its punishment

    criminal lawyer

    criminal court

  3. informal.
    senseless or deplorable

    a criminal waste of money

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈԲ, adverb
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • ··Բ· adverb
  • ԴDz···Բ adjective noun
  • non···Բ· adverb
  • ܲ·-··Բ adjective
  • qua·si-··Բ· adverb
  • ܲ···Բ adjective
  • sub···Բ· adverb
  • ····Բ adjective noun
  • su·per···Բ· adverb
  • ܲ···Բ adjective
  • un···Բ· adverb
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of criminal1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin ī, from Latin ī- (stem of ī “accusation, blame, charge”; crime ) + - -al 1
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of criminal1

C15: from Late Latin ī; see crime , -al 1
Discover More

Synonym Study

See illegal.
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The encrypted phone network, developed in about 2016, was almost exclusively being used by criminals three years later.

From

Feds announced criminal charges against three people who allegedly falsely claimed their properties were destroyed in the Eaton and Palisades wildfires in order to receive tens of thousands of dollars.

From

It’s unclear whether the case has been turned over to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office, which has the final say on filing criminal charges.

From

Many affected students appeared to have participated in political protests or have had previous criminal charges, such as driving infractions.

From

When the couple were sentenced in criminal court, it was believed that Lucy was the child of Ossai and his Nigerian-born British wife.

From

Advertisement

Discover More

More About Criminal

is a basic definition of criminal?

A criminal is a person who commits crime. Criminal is also used to describe something involved in committing crime or related to crime. Criminal has a few other senses as an adjective.

A criminal is a person who breaks the law and engages in illegal activity.

  • Real-life examples: Shoplifters, kidnappers, bank robbers, and pirates are all criminals.
  • Used in a sentence: The judged sentenced the two wanted criminals to prison for stealing a car.

As an adjective, criminal describes something involved in or related to committing a crime.

  • Real-life examples: Stealing a car, robbing someone’s house, and printing fake money to use as real money are all criminal acts. They are all against the law, and a person will be arrested if caught doing any of these acts. Police might say a person is accused of criminal activity if they believe the person was doing something illegal.
  • Used in a sentence: The gangster Al Capone was in charge of a criminal organization.

Criminal can also be used to describe something that is related to crime without actually engaging in it.

  • Real-life examples: In the United States, criminal law is a collection of laws that state what the government or society says is a crime and will result in punishment by the state if someone is proved to have broken the law. A criminal lawyer is a lawyer who specializes in criminal law.
  • Used in a sentence: When Jimmy was arrested for breaking into his neighbor’s house, he called a criminal lawyer to help him.

Where does criminal come from?

The first records of criminal come from around 1350. It ultimately comes from the Late Latin ī, which comes from the Latin ī, meaning “crime” or “charge.”

Did you know … ?

are some other forms related to criminal?

  • criminally (adverb)
  • noncriminal (adjective)
  • noncriminally (adjective)
  • quasicriminal (adjective)

are some synonyms for criminal?

are some words that share a root or word element with criminal?

are some words that often get used in discussing criminal?

How is criminal used in real life?

Criminal is a common word that refers to people who commit crime or things that are related to crime.

Try using criminal!

Is criminal used correctly in the following sentence?

The police were searching for a criminal who stole from a grocery store.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


crimewavecriminal assault