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

Ron Lafferty, her uncle and Dan's accomplice, was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1984 killings of Brenda Lafferty, his sister-in-law, and Brenda’s 15-month-old daughter, Erica. —Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025

Neither of the two accomplices in the case received a death sentence. —Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Oct. 2025

If the impersonators do not currently have the customer's PIN, the accomplice or impersonator will use social engineering techniques to obtain this from the customer. —Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025

One of the slain robbers is Parker’s longtime accomplice Philly Webb (Thomas Jane), whose widow, Grace (Gretchen Mol), only half buys it when Parker promises to get her Philly’s share and ice his killer. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 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