criminal

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

Updated on: 27 May 2018

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

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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.

Recent Examples of criminal from the Web

Most cases of police shootings in Louisville do not make it to the grand jury stage, as prosecutors usually review the case, determine criminal charges are not appropriate and find officers acted within the scope of the law.

— matthew glowicki, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville police officer won't be indicted in shooting of homeless man," 22 May 2018
Both of their careers were marked by high-rolling success and spectacular falls from grace — and criminal convictions.

— NBC News, "AP investigation: A Trump fundraiser's secret lobbying effort to win $1B in business," 21 May 2018
Both of their careers were marked by high-rolling success and spectacular falls from grace — and criminal convictions.

— desmond butler and tom lobianco, chicagotribune.com, "AP: Emails reveal secret lobbying effort to alter U.S. policy in Middle East," 21 May 2018
Trump had pardoned Arpaio last year for a criminal contempt conviction.

— kaitlin lange, Indianapolis Star, "Mike Pence's tax talk: 4 things he'll likely say in Indianapolis based on similar events," 18 May 2018
Of those, nearly 67% had criminal convictions and about 33% didn’t.

— laura meckler, WSJ, "Wider Net Cast in Illegal-Immigration Cases," 17 May 2018
Sixty-two of the people arrested had prior criminal convictions; 31 had re-entered the United States illegally after previously having been deported.

— Fox News, "ICE arrests 78 in five-state immigration sweep in Midwest," 17 May 2018
And the department no longer transfers people with certain minor criminal convictions to ICE custody.

— kate mather, latimes.com, "In Trump era, LAPD strengthens bonds with immigrants here illegally," 17 May 2018
With that in mind, Republicans like Rep. Shamed Dogan were emphasizing before Monday that impeachment was not predicated on getting a criminal conviction.

— chris cillizza, CNN, "Yes, the scandal-plagued Missouri governor still could be impeached sometime soon," 15 May 2018

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

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

criminal Synonyms

Other Legal Terms

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

criminal

noun

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

Recent Examples of criminal from the Web

Vince, a genial small-time criminal, doesn’t have that kind of cash to spare.

— lincoln michel, GQ, "Cheap Thrills Is the Darkest Dark Comedy on Netflix," 19 May 2018
Approximately 6,000 guns used by criminals in California in 2014 alone were purchased in neighboring states like Arizona and Nevada, where there are considerably fewer restrictions.

— lincoln anthony blades, Teen Vogue, "California's Gun Laws Are Progress, Not Perfection," 15 May 2018
The Primeira Liga also put out a statement, branding the individuals responsible 'criminals'.

— SI.com, "PHOTOS: Sporting Players Injured After 50 Hooded Fans Attack Squad and Trash Training Ground," 15 May 2018
In this thriller dropping just in time for Mother’s Day, Gabrielle Union shows that a mother’s love knows no bounds — and sometimes extends to some pretty impressive martial arts moves — when her kids’ lives are threatened by shady criminals.

— eliza berman, Time, "50 New Summer Movies to See in 2018," 11 May 2018
The museum also has vintage scooters, including a 1916 scooter purportedly used as an escape vehicle by criminals.

— sheryl devore, Lake County News-Sun, "Volo Auto Museum opens outdoor space Memorial Day weekend with new exhibits," 8 May 2018
Skimming devices, used by criminals to read data from the magnetic strip on debit and credit cards to steal the numbers, are becoming more and more advanced, according to police who found one late last week in Aberdeen.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Skimming devices becoming more advanced police in Harford say," 27 Apr. 2018
Disappearances — abductions of individuals by criminals, state agents or others — are also up.

— kate linthicum, latimes.com, "Soldiers took them in the night. Now Mexico's key drug war strategy is on trial.," 25 Apr. 2018
After all, social media sites are full of data that can make police interventions more effective, from posts about crimes in progress to damning evidence offered freely by criminals and even live videos of crimes.

— christopher raleigh bousquet, WIRED, "Why Police Should Monitor Social Media to Prevent Crime," 20 Apr. 2018