-
Trending Now:
More Trending:
- scaramouch non sequitur admiral's mast calumny kakistocracy
- ALL
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
-
Lawyers are scheduled to make closing arguments Thursday, July 6, 2017, at the criminal trial of the former six-term sheriff of metro Phoenix.
-
Pell, who last week was charged in his native Australia with criminal sex assault, asked Sister Carol Keehan, president and CEO of Catholic Health Association in the U.S., to investigate.
-
Bell, who was arrested Wednesday after leading police on a short car chase, is also charged with six counts of wanton endangerment, fleeing or evading police, possession of marijuana and criminal mischief.
-
Matthew E. Vogt, 44, was charged in Lake County with criminal recklessness, a felony, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia, both misdemeanors, according to court records.
-
Tyreik Baldwin was charged Wednesday in Jackson County Circuit Court with first-degree murder, domestic assault, armed criminal action and vehicle theft.
-
That said, federal enforcement priorities seem to remain focused on preventing revenues from the sale of drugs from going to criminal enterprises and preventing violence associated with the illegal drug trade.
-
Three former executives from Tokyo Electric Power Co. pleaded not guilty to charges of negligence at the beginning of the only criminal trial related to Japan’s nuclear-plant meltdown six years ago.
-
In fact, Pell once accused the police and an Australian broadcaster of criminal conspiracy against him.
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
-
During his incarceration the actual criminal remained free and committed other crimes.
-
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.
-
Now researchers warn that cyber criminals might set their sights on another target: animal tracking data.
-
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
-
: involving illegal activity : relating to crime
-
: relating to laws that describe crimes rather than to laws about a person's rights
-
: morally wrong
criminal
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
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
-
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
What made you want to look up criminal? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!