Someone's accomplice is a person who helps them to commit a crime.
The gunman escaped on a motorcycle being ridden by an accomplice.
His accomplice was arrested after a high-speed police chase.
Synonyms: partner in crime, ally, associate, assistant More Synonyms of accomplice
accomplice in British English
(əˈkɒmplɪs, əˈkʌm-)
noun
a person who helps another in committing a crime
Word origin
C15: from a complice, interpreted as one word. See complice
accomplice in American English
(əˈkɑmplɪs)
noun
a person who knowingly participates with another in an unlawful act; partner in crime
SIMILAR WORDS: asˈsociˌate
Word origin
< ME a complice (the article a is merged, infl. by accomplish) < OFr complice < LL complex: see complice
Examples of 'accomplice' in a sentence
accomplice
That gave the police the names of three apparent accomplices and the address of a fourth.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Three alleged accomplices are being quizzed.
The Sun (2016)
In total another four accomplices were given suspended sentences while six others were jailed for between 21 months and five years for various fraud charges.
The Sun (2016)
The next day the three alleged accomplices met again.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Three alleged accomplices are on trial alongside him in their absence.
The Sun (2011)
Of course they must have had willing accomplices.
Jonathan Gregson BLOOD AGAINST THE SNOWS: The Tragic Story of Nepal's Royal Dynasty (2002)
He then fled with his lookout and another accomplice in a stolen car.
The Sun (2008)
Investigators released a photo of a suspected male accomplice.
The Sun (2010)
Yet there is something about him that his unwilling accomplice finds very palatable.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Police are examining the possibility that up to three accomplices may have helped him to flee abroad.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He and an alleged accomplice were charged with murder.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He had millions of willing accomplices.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Five suspected accomplices have been arrested.
The Sun (2015)
There was another accomplice who still hasn't been identified.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
When it comes to wishful thinking, the heart is a willing accomplice.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
To fix a passage of play, you need the captain and a willing accomplice or two.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
A suspected accomplice is now receiving the same treatment.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Belgian police said they had found a cache of weapons during a raid on one of his suspected accomplices on Friday.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
And the UK punters have been willing accomplices.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He and two alleged accomplices have been flown to Mexico City.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Cops have been given more time to quiz alleged accomplices after raids last week in West London.
The Sun (2014)
Three others, including a suspected accomplice, were arrested.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His conversations were recorded, and transcripts were read to a court in Brussels trying his alleged accomplices this week.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A further three men, accomplices of the robbers, are serving sentences ranging from eight years to life.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Yesterday a man accused of setting up the international money laundering for the funds, and two alleged accomplices, denied being part of the plot.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
accomplice
British English: accomplice /əˈkɒmplɪs; əˈkʌm-/ NOUN
An accomplice is a person who helps to commit a crime.
Police believe that he had an accomplice.
American English: accomplice
Arabic: شَرِيكٌ في جَرِيـمَة
Brazilian Portuguese: cúmplice
Chinese: 同伙
Croatian: suučesnik
Czech: spolupachatel
Danish: medskyldig
Dutch: medeplichtige
European Spanish: cómplice
Finnish: rikostoveri
French: complice
German: Komplize
Greek: συνεργός
Italian: complice
Japanese: 共犯者
Korean: 공범
Norwegian: medskyldig
Polish: wspólnik
European Portuguese: cúmplice
Romanian: complice
Russian: сообщник
Latin American Spanish: cómplice
Swedish: medbrottsling
Thai: ผู้สมรู้ร่วมคิด
Turkish: suç ortağı
Ukrainian: співучасник
Vietnamese: tòng phạm
Chinese translation of 'accomplice'
accomplice
(əˈkʌmplɪs)
n(c)
同谋(謀) (tóngmóu) (个(個), gè)
(noun)
Definition
a person who helps someone else commit a crime
His accomplice was arrested after a high-speed car chase.
Synonyms
partner in crime
ally
She is a close ally of the Prime Minister.
associate
the restaurant owner's business associates
assistant
He had been accompanied to the meeting by an assistant.
companion
He has been her constant companion for the last six years.
accessory
She was charged with being an accessory to the embezzlement of funds.
comrade
Unlike so many of his comrades, he survived the war.
helper
Younger children may need a helper.
colleague
Three of my colleagues have been made redundant.
collaborator
She was an important collaborator on that novel.
confederate
The conspirators were joined by their confederates.
or woman or person">henchman or woman or person
coadjutor
abettor
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abettor
Synonyms
helper,
second,
associate,
assistant,
backer,
confederate,
or woman or person">henchman or woman or person,
conniver,
cooperator
in the sense of accessory
Definition
a person who is involved in a crime but who was not present when it took place
She was charged with being an accessory to the embezzlement of funds.
Synonyms
accomplice,
partner,
ally,
associate,
assistant,
helper,
colleague,
collaborator,
confederate,
or woman or person">henchman or woman or person,
abettor,
help,
aid
in the sense of ally
Definition
a country, person, or group with an agreement to support another
She is a close ally of the Prime Minister.
Synonyms
partner,
friend,
colleague,
associate,
mate (informal),
or blud">blood or blud (British, slang),
accessory,
comrade,
helper,
collaborator,
accomplice,
confederate,
co-worker,
main man (slang, US),
bedfellow,
cobber (Australian, New Zealand, old-fashioned, informal),