criminal

1 of 2

adjective

crim·​i·​nal ˈkri-mə-nᵊl How to pronounce criminal (audio)
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
criminally adverb

criminal

2 of 2

noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Texas will deter criminal mischief and work with local law enforcement to arrest anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property. NPR, 19 Oct. 2025 Phypers is facing criminal charges, including two counts of injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiancé, boyfriend, girlfriend or child's parent; and two counts of dissuading a witness by force or threat. Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
As the trend becomes increasingly widespread, criminals are turning to faster ways to procure cars for racing. Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025 Instead, two wannabe criminals, with their faces obscured by pantyhose, simply walk into the local art museum and rip the paintings right off the walls. Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for criminal

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

Noun

derivative of criminal entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of criminal was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Criminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminal. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

criminal

1 of 2 adjective
crim·​i·​nal ˈkrim-ən-ᵊl How to pronounce criminal (audio)
ˈkrim-nəl
1
: being or guilty of a crime
a criminal act
2
: relating to crime or its punishment
criminal court
criminality
ˌkrim-ə-ˈnal-ət-ē
noun
criminally
ˈkrim-ən-ᵊl-ē
-nə-lē
adverb

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 How to pronounce criminal (audio)
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 noun
1
: one who has committed a crime
2
: a person who has been convicted of a crime

More from Merriam-Webster on criminal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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