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
Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 12 May 2026
Boston 25 News reported that Brown has a criminal history spanning nearly two decades, citing court records tied to a man with the same name and date of birth that include prior firearm and drug convictions.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 12 May 2026
Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Removing these criminals from the streets makes communities safer for business owners and customers.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for criminal
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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
Combined with anemic fundraising, a payment to her former criminal defense lawyer left her with just $11,000 in cash in her campaign account as of March 31.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 12 May 2026
Boston 25 News reported that Brown has a criminal history spanning nearly two decades, citing court records tied to a man with the same name and date of birth that include prior firearm and drug convictions.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 12 May 2026
Noun
There is perhaps no other city on earth that has been vaporized, invaded, flattened, overrun (by criminals, aliens, drugs, frogs, chemicals) more on film than Los Angeles.
—Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Removing these criminals from the streets makes communities safer for business owners and customers.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for criminal
Cite this Entry
“Criminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminal. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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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