crim·i·nal
ˈkri-mə-nᵊl 
ˈkrim-nəl
1
: relating to, involving, or being a crime
criminal neglect
a criminal organization
2
: relating to crime or to the prosecution of suspects in a crime
criminal statistics
brought criminal action
the criminal justice system
3
: guilty of crime
also
: of or befitting a criminal
a criminal mind
4
: disgraceful
It's criminal how unfunny this comedy is.—
Rick Bentley
Rick Bentley
criminally
adverb
1
: one who has committed a crime
2
: a person who has been convicted of a crime
Examples of criminal in a Sentence
Adjective
a history of criminal behavior
The captain of the wrecked boat was accused of criminal negligence.
The company brought criminal charges against her.
It's criminal that the government is doing nothing to stop the problem.
Noun
car thieves, pickpockets, burglars, and other criminals
Recent Examples on the Web
Timothy McLaughlin, The Atlantic, 13 Dec. 2025
This organization chart led to a wide-reaching criminal investigation into some of the key figures named, including Italian dealers Giacomo Medici and Gianfranco Becchina, both of whom were subsequently convicted on related charges.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 13 Dec. 2025
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Dec. 2025
Karina said that back home in Mexico, criminals threatened her family with violence to extort money from them.
—Conor Wight, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminal
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
As part of a criminal investigation into the fire, police have arrested some 20 people, including construction-firm bosses and fire-equipment contractors.
—Timothy McLaughlin, The Atlantic, 13 Dec. 2025
This organization chart led to a wide-reaching criminal investigation into some of the key figures named, including Italian dealers Giacomo Medici and Gianfranco Becchina, both of whom were subsequently convicted on related charges.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 13 Dec. 2025
Noun
Even high-profile hacks of casinos and large companies do not translate to criminals trying to breach residential smart locks for petty theft.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Dec. 2025
Karina said that back home in Mexico, criminals threatened her family with violence to extort money from them.
—Conor Wight, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminal
Cite this Entry
“Criminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminal. Accessed 15 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
criminal
1 of 2 adjective
crim·i·nal
ˈkrim-ən-ᵊl
ˈkrim-nəl
1
: being or guilty of a crime
a criminal act
2
: relating to crime or its punishment
criminal court
criminality
noun
ˌkrim-ə-ˈnal-ət-ē
criminally
adverb
ˈkrim-ən-ᵊl-ē,
-nə-lē
criminal
2 of 2 noun
: a person who has committed a crime
Legal Definition
criminal
1 of 2 adjective
crim·i·nal
ˈkri-mə-nəl
1
: relating to, involving, or being a crime
criminal neglect
criminal conduct
2
: relating to crime or its prosecution
brought a criminal action
criminal code
compare civil sense 4, penal
criminal
2 of 2 noun1
: one who has committed a crime
2
: a person who has been convicted of a crime
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