accomplice

noun

ac·​com·​plice ə-ˈkäm-pləs  -ˈkəm- 

: one associated with another especially in wrongdoing

was convicted as an accomplice to murder

Synonyms of accomplice

• henchman
• cohort
• partner
• accessory
• abettor
• informant
• informer
• companion

Examples of accomplice in a Sentence

He was convicted as an accomplice to murder.

the thief and his accomplices were eventually caught and brought to justice

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2015, Jennifer and her co-accomplices — Wong, Lenford Crawford and David Mylvaganam — were sentenced to two terms of life in prison for the murder and attempted murder of Bich and Hann, per the Toronto Star. —Emily Krauser, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025

Prigg, who went unpunished along with his accomplices, became a sheriff. —Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025

In New Jersey, authorities arrested Tomas Kaan Jimenez-Guzal, 19, and Milo Sedarat, 21, on Tuesday, and additional accomplices are still under investigation with more arrests possible, a law enforcement source told Fox News Digital earlier. —Michael Ruiz , Maria Paronich, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025

No one fingered an extra-hemispheric accomplice. —Alan McPherson, The Conversation, 2 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Anglo-French acomplice, alteration of complice "associate" — more at complice

Note: The source of initial a(c)- is unclear. The earlier notion that a- represents fusion of the indefinite article cannot be maintained given the much earlier occurrences of the word in Anglo-French (in a 1384 petition of the Drapers guild, and in vol. 2 of the Rotuli Parliamentorum [1279-1377]). The suggestion that complice has been assimilated to accomplir, "to fulfill, etc.," (see accomplish) is not very compelling semantically.

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

accomplice

noun

ac·​com·​plice ə-ˈkäm-pləs  -ˈkəm- 

: someone associated with another in wrongdoing

Legal Definition

accomplice

noun

ac·​com·​plice ə-ˈkäm-pləs, -ˈkəm- 

: one who intentionally and voluntarily participates with another in a crime by encouraging or assisting in the commission of the crime or by failing to prevent it though under a duty to do so

the accomplice of the burglar

an accomplice in a robbery

Etymology

alteration (from incorrect division of a complice) of complice, from Middle French, associate, from Late Latin complic- complex partner, confederate