culprit

noun

cul·​prit ˈkəl-prət 

-ˌprit

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.

Did you know?

We would be culpable—that is, deserving of blame—if we didn’t clearly explain the origin of culprit. Yes, it is related to culpable, which itself comes (via Middle English and Anglo-French) from the Latin verb culpare, meaning “to blame.” 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 the Anglo-French word prest or prit, meaning “ready”; literally, a culprit was one who was ready to be proven guilty. The word was eventually adopted into English and used to refer to someone who is accused of a wrongdoing. The word has since taken on an additional meaning: “the source or cause of a problem.”

Synonyms of culprit

• offender
• criminal

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

As the culprit scrubs at a bloodstain that seems to grow smearier with every wipe, the camera looks on for what feels like an eternity, with a silent but unmistakable disdain. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2026

One problem is that two of the main suspects are too painfully obvious to be guilty, while the real culprit is easy to guess, well before Charlie turns up to provide answers. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2026

When a man was found dead Monday — tied up with an extension cord, wrapped in three layers of garbage bags and left near a dumpster at an Orlando apartment — police quickly identified his girlfriend as the culprit, court records show. — Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Nov. 2026

But something doesn’t add up about the apparent culprit, Kelly (Shayna Benardo), a poor, placid girl with learning difficulties. — Judy Berman, Time, 11 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French cul. (abbreviation of culpable guilty) + prest, prit ready (i.e., to prove it), from Latin praestus — more at presto

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

culprit

noun

cul·​prit ˈkəl-prət 

-ˌprit

1

: one accused of or charged with a crime or fault

2

: one guilty of a crime or fault