accomplice

noun

ac·com·plice | \ə-ˈkäm-pləs,

-ˈkəm-

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 on the Web

There was commotion in the court when the judge issued lesser sentences to four others convicted of being accomplices in some of the killings. — Erik Kirschbaum, latimes.com, "German Neo-Nazi found guilty of murder in execution-style slayings of migrants," 11 July 2018 In addition, an alleged accomplice of the pair was taken into custody in France and an Iranian diplomat assigned to Tehran's embassy in Vienna was arrested in Germany, his diplomatic immunity stripped by the Austrians. — NBC News, "Was it an Iranian terror plot or a false flag operation?," 6 July 2018 The cheater quietly reads out the questions—without being spotted by exam supervisors—and the accomplice murmurs the answers directly into his or her ear. — Isabel Coles And, WSJ, "Make-or-Break Exams Bring Out the Best and Brightest Cheaters," 5 July 2018 Officers caught the suspect and an accomplice red-handed — but the suspect wasn’t going down without a fight, Michigan police said. — Jared Gilmour, miamiherald, "Man caught breaking into cars went for cop’s gun — and it didn’t end well, Mich. police say," 28 June 2018 The purported accomplice, 18-year-old Trinity Arvin Keara Jones of Ramona, allegedly scouted the bank prior to Taylor's entrance and served as his getaway driver following the crime. — City News Service, Pomerado News, "Suspected Poway bank robber indicted," 25 June 2018 An affidavit obtained by the New York Times claims that Williams and an accomplice followed Onfroy into the motorcycle dealership less than an hour before murdering him. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, "New Court Documents Reveal XXXTentacion's Killers Followed Him Into Motorcycle Dealership," 23 June 2018 While the accomplice and clerk were in the back of the store, the woman was in the front, dancing and periodically grabbing scratch-offs from behind the counter. — Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, ""Dancing thief" caught on camera stealing scratch-offs while busting a move," 21 June 2018 The accomplices refused to tell police the name of the fourth suspect, whom police are trying to identify, Knop said. — Tyler Langan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Attack at Menomonee Falls McDonalds sends employee to hospital," 25 May 2018

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.

History and Etymology for 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.

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

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Last Updated

10 Oct 2018

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Time Traveler for accomplice

The first known use of accomplice was in 1584

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More Definitions for accomplice

accomplice

noun

English Language Learners Definition of accomplice

: a person who works with or helps someone who is doing something wrong or illegal

See the full definition for accomplice in the English Language Learners Dictionary

accomplice

noun

ac·com·plice | \ə-ˈkäm-pləs

Kids Definition of accomplice

: a partner in wrongdoing

accomplice

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