accomplice

noun

ac·​com·​plice ə-ˈkäm-pləs  -ˈkəm- 

: one associated with another especially in wrongdoing

was convicted as an accomplice to murder

Synonyms

• henchman
• cohort
• accessary
• partner
• accessory
• abettor
• informant
• 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

Prosecutors described how the fraudulent salaries were routed through U.S.-based financial intermediaries and accomplices, eventually landing in accounts controlled by North Korean agents and, ultimately, the North Korean regime. —Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025

The main 19-year-old Austrian suspect was arrested ahead of the planned Eras Tour show on Aug. 7 alongside an alleged 17-year-old accomplice. —Rachel Scharf, Billboard, 27 June 2025

Read All About It The 32-year-old man accused of being an accomplice in the car bombing outside a California fertility clinic last month died while in federal custody. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 25 June 2025

Reis and the alleged accomplices would reportedly take the tests and, when asked by DMV staff for a photo as proof, would upload the photos, according to officials. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 17 June 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