culprit

noun

cul·​prit ˈkəl-prət How to pronounce culprit (audio)
-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.”

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 The most obvious culprit of a stinky fridge is spoiled food. Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2024 The real inflation culprits were immune to the Fed’s powers. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024 Not long after an inmate named Henry Cole and Williams' girlfriend, Lara Asaro, named Williams as the culprit. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 23 Sep. 2024 Ragweed is the main culprit behind fall allergies and Richmond's worst ranking. Karri Peifer, Axios, 17 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for culprit 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'culprit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of culprit was in 1678

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Dictionary Entries Near culprit

Cite this Entry

“Culprit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culprit. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

culprit

noun
cul·​prit ˈkəl-prət How to pronounce culprit (audio)
-ˌprit
1
: one accused of or charged with a crime or fault
2
: one guilty of a crime or fault

More from Merriam-Webster on culprit

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