guilty

1 of 2

adjective

ˈgil-tē 

guiltier; guiltiest

1

: justly chargeable with or responsible for a usually grave breach of conduct or a crime

guilty of manslaughter

Does the defendant plead guilty or not guilty?

They were found guilty as charged.

2

a

: suggesting or involving guilt

The children exchanged guilty looks.

b

: aware of or suffering from guilt

guilty consciences

3

obsolete : justly liable to or deserving of a penalty

guiltily

ˈgil-tə-lē 

adverb

guiltiness

ˈgil-tē-nəs 

noun

guiltiness

2 of 2

noun

guilt·​i·​ness -tēnə̇s 

-tin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being guilty

Synonyms of guilty

Adjective

• ashamed

Choose the Right Synonym for guilty

blameworthy, blamable, guilty, culpable mean deserving reproach or punishment.

blameworthy and blamable apply to any degree of reprehensibility.

conduct adjudged blameworthy

an accident for which no one is blamable

guilty implies responsibility for or consciousness of crime, sin, or, at the least, grave error or misdoing.

guilty of a breach of etiquette

culpable is weaker than guilty and is likely to connote malfeasance or errors of ignorance, omission, or negligence.

culpable neglect

Examples of guilty in a Sentence

Adjective

Do you think he's innocent or guilty?

Will the defendant plead guilty or not guilty?

The children exchanged guilty looks.

He was acting like someone with a guilty conscience.

There's no need to feel guilty about it.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Davis denied the charges and three years later, after pleading guilty for failing to report $8,800 in income on his 1972 Federal tax return, received vindication from the judge in the tax evasion case. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 23 June 2026

Miami real estate developer George Pino was found not guilty in connection with a boat crash off Boca Chita Key in Biscayne Bay in September 2022 that killed one teenager and left another with permanent disabilities. —Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026

Daniel Chartraw, a former El Dorado County resident, was found guilty Thursday in a nearly $1 million cryptocurrency fraud case after an eight-day federal trial. —Sacbee.com, 22 June 2026

But he was ejected from the company in 1973 for allegedly misusing corporate funds, and pleaded guilty to tax evasion. —Chris Morris, Variety, 22 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see guilt entry 1

Noun

Middle English giltines, from gilty guilty + -nes, -ness -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing guilty

• (as) guilty as sin
• guilty party
• guilty pleasure
• guilty/troubled conscience

Rhymes for guilty

• silty
• subtilty

Kids Definition

guilty

adjective

ˈgil-tē 

guiltier; guiltiest

1

: having done wrong

2

a

: suggesting or involving guilt

a guilty manner

b

: aware of or suffering from guilt

a guilty conscience

guiltily

-tə-lē 

adverb

guiltiness

-tē-nəs 

noun

Legal Definition

guilty

1 of 2 adjective

guiltier; guiltiest

1

: having committed a crime : justly charged with a specified crime

guilty of larceny

2

: involving guilt or culpability

guilty knowledge

guilty

2 of 2 noun

1

: a plea of a criminal defendant who does not intend to contest the charges

2

: a verdict of a jury that believes the defendant committed the crime charged compare nolo contendere, not guilty, not guilty by reason of insanity