perpetrate

verb

per·​pe·​trate ˈpər-pə-ˌtrāt 

perpetrated; perpetrating

transitive verb

1

: to bring about or carry out (something, such as a crime or deception) : commit

2

: to produce, perform, or execute (something likened to a crime)

perpetrate a pun

perpetration

ˌpər-pə-ˈtrā-shən 

noun

perpetrator

ˈpər-pə-ˌtrā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• perform
• accomplish
• execute
• fulfill
• fulfil
• achieve
• do
• make
• implement
• commit
• prosecute

Examples of perpetrate in a Sentence

The men were planning to perpetrate a robbery.

The attack was perpetrated by a street gang.

He vowed revenge for the crime perpetrated on his family.

Recent Examples on the Web

And on that summer day in Texas, the 85-year-old Bates became one of the tens of thousands of Americans who fall victim each year to scams perpetrated using bitcoin ATMs. —ABC News, 9 Oct. 2025

But by and large the levers available to a text model to perpetrate harm are limited. —Billy Perrigo, Time, 9 Oct. 2025

And when that happens, that makes atrocities all that much easier to perpetrate. —Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 9 Oct. 2025

Kissinger spoke the words in full knowledge of the massive human rights abuses being perpetrated in Chile, and efforts in the US Congress to block arms sales to that country. —Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin perpetratus, past participle of perpetrare, from per- through + patrare to accomplish, from pater father — more at father

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for perpetrate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

perpetrate

verb

per·​pe·​trate ˈpər-pə-ˌtrāt 

perpetrated; perpetrating

: to be guilty of doing : commit

perpetration

ˌpər-pə-ˈtrā-shən 

noun

perpetrator

ˈpər-pə-ˌtrāt-ər 

noun

Legal Definition

perpetrate

transitive verb

per·​pe·​trate ˈpər-pə-ˌtrāt 

perpetrated; perpetrating

: to carry out or bring about (as a crime)

perpetration

ˌpər-pə-ˈtrā-shən 

noun

perpetrator

ˈpər-pə-ˌtrā-tər 

noun