culprit

noun

cul·prit | \ ˈkəl-prət

, -ˌprit\

Definition of culprit

1 : one accused of or charged with a crime The culprit pleaded "not guilty."

2 : one guilty of a crime or a fault The culprit expressed remorse at his sentencing.

3 : the source or cause of a problem Lack of exercise and poor diet are the main culprits in heart disease.

Synonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about culprit

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Did You Know?

We would be culpable if we didn't clearly explain the origins behind culprit. Yes, it is related to culpable, which itself derives from Latin culpare, meaning "to blame," via Middle English and Anglo-French. But the etymology of culprit is not so straightforward. In Anglo-French, culpable meant "guilty," and this was abbreviated "cul." in legal briefs and texts. Culprit was formed by combining this abbreviation with prest, prit, meaning "ready"-that is, ready to prove an accusation. Literally, then, a culprit was one who was ready to be proven guilty. English then borrowed the word for one accused of a wrongdoing.

Examples of culprit in a Sentence

The police eventually located the culprits. the police caught the culprit a mere two blocks from the scene of the crime

Recent Examples on the Web

Nearly all the drug candidates have targeted one of the key hallmarks of Alzheimer’s: amyloid plaques, the barnacle-like proteins long considered the main culprits behind the disease. — Linda Marsa, Discover Magazine, "A New Treatment for Alzheimer's? It Starts With Lifestyle," 16 Nov. 2018 The main culprit is carbon monoxide: People forget that generators are internal combustion engines and run them in enclosed spaces. — Ezra Dyer, Popular Mechanics, "How the Honda EU2200i Generator Is Getting Me Through Hurricane Florence," 17 Sep. 2018 Today, even though my skin is still far from perfect—occasional flare-ups still occur!—I at least know what the main culprit is. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, "I Gave Up Dairy—And My Adult Acne Vanished in Under a Month," 28 July 2018 Others have argued the main culprit behind these die-offs was the changing climate. — Jason G. Goldman, Scientific American, "In 200 Years Cows May Be the Biggest Land Mammals on the Planet," 20 Apr. 2018 Marinated fish: The main culprit here is unagi, which is freshwater eel covered in a sweet glaze. — Anne Nickoloff, cleveland.com, "Get 'Rick-rolled' at Cleveland House Of Blues in April with Rick Astley show," 6 Feb. 2018 But the advent of the internet and the rise of social media are the main culprits. — Alex Shephard, New Republic, "Facebook and Google Won’t Save Local News," 31 Jan. 2018 Some common culprits include fragrances, preservatives, and botanicals. — Sarah Jacoby, SELF, "How to Care for Your Angry Skin After an Allergic Reaction on Your Face," 2 Apr. 2019 Another major culprit of transient pain is certain personal care products, says Dr. Coady. — Elyssa Goodman, Glamour, "7 Causes of Pain During Sex—and What to Do About Them," 21 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'culprit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.