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
Meena Duerson, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
During this time, the Irpinia earthquake delivers the final blow to the already fragile balance of the New Organized Camorra criminal organization [that originated in the region of Campania and is one of the oldest and largest criminal organizations in Italy, dating to the 18th century].
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
So those drums can fall into the hands of criminals who then refill them with the cheaper, toxic liquids and pass them off as the pharmaceutical-grade product, selling them to drug manufacturers who are looking to save money on ingredients.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminal
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
The patients also continued to push the only available avenue for Farley to face criminal charges – lobbying for the state’s attorney general to reopen the criminal case.
—Meena Duerson, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
During this time, the Irpinia earthquake delivers the final blow to the already fragile balance of the New Organized Camorra criminal organization [that originated in the region of Campania and is one of the oldest and largest criminal organizations in Italy, dating to the 18th century].
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
Flock Safety argues its drone system can act as a deterrent simply by being visible, making criminals think twice before targeting a store.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
So those drums can fall into the hands of criminals who then refill them with the cheaper, toxic liquids and pass them off as the pharmaceutical-grade product, selling them to drug manufacturers who are looking to save money on ingredients.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 10 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 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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