criminal
pronunciation
How to pronounce criminal in British English:
UK [ˈkrɪmɪnl]
How to pronounce criminal in American English:
US [ˈkrɪmɪnl]
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- Noun:
- someone who has committed (or been legally convicted of) a crime
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- Adjective:
- relating to crime or its punishment
- bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
- guilty of crime or serious offense
- involving or being or having the nature of a crime
Word Origin
- criminal (adj.)
- early 15c., from Middle French criminel (11c.), from Latin criminalis "pertaining to crime," from crimen (genitive criminis); see crime. Preserves the Latin -n-. Criminal law (or criminal justice) distinguished from civil in English at least since late 15c.
- criminal (n.)
- 1620s, from criminal (adj.).
Synonym
cutpurse man crook embezzler purse-snatcher thief armed robber bandit shoplifter stealer hold-up burglar stick-up pickpocket
usurer extortionist extortioner swindler artist blackmailer shark loan confidence counterfeiter man bleeder con
sinner scofflaw jailbird malefactor offender larcenist crook exconvict convict transgressor recidivist misdemeanant wrongdoer outlaw lawbreaker chronic larcener felon misfeasor repeat culprit malfeasant
notorious monstrous abominable vicious outrageous disreputable infamous heinous atrocious flagrant
iniquitous black flagitious sinful nefarious errant villainous depraved evil corrupt unrighteous wicked bad degenerate vile foul
Antonym
Example
- 1. Some are suggesting a criminal investigation .
- 2. A man with hay fever is a natural criminal .
- 3. Others fear that the newly jobless will turn criminal .
- 4. That made ms whitaker a criminal .
- 5. His deputy reckons half of pardhi men are criminal .