criminal

1 of 2

adjective

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

criminally adverb

criminal

2 of 2

noun

1

: one who has committed a crime

2

: a person who has been convicted of a crime

Synonyms of criminal

Adjective

• illegal
• unlawful
• illicit
• felonious
• wrongful

Noun

• offender

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

Adjective

Both raised concerns about the 2024 version, telling state lawmakers that the universities could face criminal penalties, civil fines or the loss of federal contracts. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

Instead, according to the court, the matter should not have been considered a criminal case, because the Art Institute of Chicago has disputed the artwork’s ownership claim by heirs of Fritz Grünbaum. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Noun

While the Guardians now view manhunters as intergalactic war criminals, Zoe’s presence largely benefitted Rushville. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2026

Brazil's travel advisory was also recently updated, with officials warning Americans about crime and kidnapping, including armed robberies, carjackings and criminals drugging victims' drinks before robbing them. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2026

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

Phrases Containing criminal

• career criminal
• criminal conversation
• criminal court
• criminal law
• criminal lawyer
• criminal mind
• criminal record

Rhymes for criminal

• liminal
• noncriminal
• subliminal

Kids 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

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 

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