crim·i·nal
ˈkri-mə-nᵊl 
ˈkrim-nəl
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
Rick Bentley
criminally
adverb
1
: one who has committed a crime
2
: a person who has been convicted of a crime
Examples of criminal in a Sentence
Adjective
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.
Noun
car thieves, pickpockets, burglars, and other criminals
Recent Examples on the Web
Essence, 6 July 2025
The incident took place at the Norwood Avenue subway station at 9 a.m.
Marshall was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, as well as third-degree assault and second-degree harassment.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025
Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025
Recently, however, the technology has been used by criminals for purposes of sextortion.
—Steve Weisman, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminal
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
This panel will examine mass incarceration through multiple lenses and how the criminal justice system serves as a point of crisis of public health, black wealth building, voter disenfranchisement, and family structure.
—Essence, 6 July 2025
The incident took place at the Norwood Avenue subway station at 9 a.m.
Marshall was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, as well as third-degree assault and second-degree harassment.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025
Noun
But with this bill, Republicans are laying the groundwork to gut safeguards that stopped criminals from getting these deadly weapons.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025
Recently, however, the technology has been used by criminals for purposes of sextortion.
—Steve Weisman, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminal
Cite this Entry
“Criminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminal. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
criminal
1 of 2 adjective
crim·i·nal
ˈkrim-ən-ᵊl
ˈkrim-nəl
1
: being or guilty of a crime
a criminal act
2
: relating to crime or its punishment
criminal court
criminality
noun
ˌkrim-ə-ˈnal-ət-ē
criminally
adverb
ˈkrim-ən-ᵊl-ē
-nə-lē
criminal
2 of 2 noun
: a person who has committed a crime
Legal Definition
criminal
1 of 2 adjective
crim·i·nal
ˈkri-mə-nəl
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 sense 4, penal
criminal
2 of 2 noun1
: one who has committed a crime
2
: a person who has been convicted of a crime
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