Definition of criminal
1 : relating to, involving, or being a crime criminal neglect a criminal organization
2 : relating to crime or to the prosecution of suspects in a crime criminal statistics brought criminal action the criminal justice system
3 : guilty of crime; also : of or befitting a criminal a criminal mind
4 : disgraceful It's criminal how unfunny this comedy is. — Rick Bentley
criminally
adverbRead the Latest from M-W
Examples of criminal in a Sentence
a history of criminal behavior
The captain of the wrecked boat was accused of criminal negligence.
The company brought criminal charges against her.
It's criminal that the government is doing nothing to stop the problem.
Recent Examples of criminal from the Web
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This judicial seat should be filled by someone who knows the criminal law of this State, and who will NOT need 'on the job training.'
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The Daily Southtown investigation also found one of Club One's operators was previously denied a liquor license and that one of the operators is prohibited from holding a liquor license because of his criminal history.
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Rivera, however, has managed to avoid all criminal charges.
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Many people in immigration detention don’t have lawyers and, because immigration cases are civil violations and not criminal cases, are not entitled to one.
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Dishonest, fraudulent or criminal acts or willful violations of the law aren't covered at all by the Navigators Insurance Co. policy.
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Thailand’s lèse-majesté law is possibly the strictest criminal-defamation law anywhere.
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The reason behind the entire registration system, much like the requirement to register your automobile, is to hold irresponsible and criminal user accountable for their actions.
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A grand jury had refused to indict Williams and another officer of criminal charges in September 2014.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'criminal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Other Legal Terms
criminal
Definition of criminal
1 : one who has committed a crime
2 : a person who has been convicted of a crime
Examples of criminal in a Sentence
car thieves, pickpockets, burglars, and other criminals
Recent Examples of criminal from the Web
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In 2015, Starbucks confirmed that criminals have been gaining access to customers' rewards accounts and making unauthorized charges.
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During his incarceration the actual criminal remained free and committed other crimes.
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Around one out of every 50 people fall for it, according to the criminal.
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Each week, the profiler would use her special ability to see through the eyes of the criminals to take down the most violent, twisted offenders.
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Such a data cache may allow criminals to go after more sensitive personal information elsewhere online.
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Now researchers warn that cyber criminals might set their sights on another target: animal tracking data.
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Few criminals have the wherewithal to pull off a heist like that and leave no trail, so it's already rumored that the infamous Pink Panthers were behind the robbery.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'criminal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of criminal
derivative of 1criminal
Other Legal Terms
CRIMINAL Defined for English Language Learners
criminal
playDefinition of criminal for English Language Learners
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: involving illegal activity : relating to crime
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: relating to laws that describe crimes rather than to laws about a person's rights
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: morally wrong
criminal
Definition of criminal for English Language Learners
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: a person who has committed a crime or who has been proved to be guilty of a crime by a court
CRIMINAL Defined for Kids
Definition of criminal for Students
1 : being or guilty of an act that is unlawful, foolish, or wrong
2 : relating to unlawful acts or their punishment criminal law
criminally
\-nəl-ē\ adverbDefinition of criminal for Students
: a person who has committed an unlawful act
Law Dictionary
criminal
Legal Definition of criminal
1 : one who has committed a crime
2 : a person who has been convicted of a crime
Learn More about criminal
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See words that rhyme with criminal Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for criminal Spanish Central: Translation of criminal Nglish: Translation of criminal for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of criminal for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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