plural guilts
1
: responsibility for a crime or for doing something bad or wrong
The jury determines the defendant's guilt or innocence.
an admission of guilt
His guilt in the matter was indisputable.
It was clear that the guilt lay with him.
2
: a bad feeling caused by knowing or thinking that you have done something bad or wrong
I was overwhelmed by feelings of guilt. [=shame]
a strong sense of guilt
She feels guilt over something that happened before she was born!
guilt-ridden people [=people who feel a lot of guilt]
our secret guilts and insecurities
Cite this Entry
“Guilt.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/guilt. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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