criminal

play

adjective crim·i·nal \ˈkri-mə-n^əl, ˈkrim-nəl\

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

adverb

See criminal defined for English-language learners

See criminal defined for kids

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.

Origin and Etymology of criminal

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French criminal, borrowed from Latin crīminālis, from crīmin-, crīmen “indictment, crime” + -ālis ¹-al

NEW!

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

criminal

noun crim·i·nal

Definition of criminal

1 : one who has committed a crime
2 : a person who has been convicted of a crime

See criminal defined for English-language learners

Examples of criminal in a Sentence

car thieves, pickpockets, burglars, and other criminals

Origin and Etymology of criminal

derivative of ¹criminal

NEW!

First Known Use: 1610

See Words from the same year

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

CRIMINAL Defined for English Language Learners

criminal

play

adjective

Definition of criminal for English Language Learners

: involving illegal activity : relating to crime
: relating to laws that describe crimes rather than to laws about a person's rights
: morally wrong

criminal

noun

Definition of criminal for English Language Learners

: 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

criminal

play

adjective crim·i·nal \ˈkri-mə-n^əl\

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

\-n^əl-ē\ adverb

criminal

play

noun crim·i·nal

Definition of criminal for Students

: a person who has committed an unlawful act

Law Dictionary

criminal

play

adjective crim·i·nal \ˈkri-mə-nəl\

Legal Definition of criminal

1 : relating to, involving, or being a crime criminal neglect criminal conduct
2 : relating to crime or its prosecution brought a criminal action criminal code — compare civil 4, penal