Definition of accomplice
:one associated with another especially in wrongdoing
- was convicted as an accomplice to murder
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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 of accomplice from the Web
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What, moreover, about Awan’s brothers and other apparent accomplices?
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Testerman and his accomplice, 28-year-old Scott Lawrence, of Abingdon, were arrested the same day.
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Meanwhile, an accomplice went into the victim’s home, which is on Texas Street near Polk Avenue, and stole prescription drugs.
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In the course of the investigation, Hamm confessed to the murder; in exchange for being allowed to plead guilty to lesser offense, two accomplices testified against him.
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Police released images of the suspect and a suspected accomplice who later tried to use one of the victim’s debit cards at a gas station in Blue Springs, police said.
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The FBI did not identify Conn’s alleged accomplice.
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A male accomplice was arrested Thursday and was being questioned by detectives.
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On Thursday, Dadayev’s four accomplices were sentenced to 11 to 19 years in jail.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'accomplice.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of accomplice
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.
accomplice Synonyms
Synonyms
abettor (also abetter), accessory (also accessary), cohort, confederateRelated Words
collaborationist, collaborator, informant, informer; evidence, state's evidence; companion, comrade, crony, henchman, partner; conspirator, plotter, traitor; gangster, mobster, racketeerOther Legal Terms
ACCOMPLICE Defined for English Language Learners
accomplice
play
noun
Definition of accomplice for English Language Learners
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: a person who works with or helps someone who is doing something wrong or illegal
ACCOMPLICE Defined for Kids
accomplice
play
noun
ac·com·plice
\
ə-ˈkäm-pləs
\
Definition of accomplice for Students
:a partner in wrongdoing
Law Dictionary
accomplice
play
noun
ac·com·plice
\
ə-ˈkäm-pləs, -ˈkəm-
\
legal Definition of accomplice
: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
Origin and Etymology of accomplice
alteration (from incorrect division of a complice) of complice, from Middle French, associate, from Late Latin complic- complex partner, confederate
Learn More about accomplice
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for accomplice Spanish Central: Translation of accomplice Nglish: Translation of accomplice for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of accomplice for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about accomplice
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