A criminal is a person who regularly commits crimes.
A group of gunmen attacked a prison and set free nine criminals in Moroto.
Synonyms: lawbreaker, convict, con [slang], offender More Synonyms of criminal
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Criminal means connected with crime.
He faces various criminal charges.
At 17, he had a criminal record for petty theft.
Doug was found guilty of criminal assault and sentenced to six months in jail.
criminality (krɪmɪnælɪti)uncountable noun
Between 1960 and 1985 we had a tenfold increase of criminality.
Synonyms: illegality, crime, corruption, delinquency More Synonyms of criminal
criminallyadverb [usually ADVERB adjective/-ed]
...a hospital for the criminally insane.
3. adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you describe an action as criminal, you think it is very wrong or a serious mistake.
[disapproval]
He said a full-scale dispute involving strikes would be criminal.
criminallyadverb [ADVERB adjective]
It was, he said, criminally irresponsible for any party to say it would never raisepersonal taxation.
More Synonyms of criminal
criminal in British English
(ˈkrɪmɪnəl)
noun
1.
a person charged with and convicted of crime
2.
a person who commits crimes for a living
adjective
3.
of, involving, or guilty of crime
4. (prenominal)
of or relating to crime or its punishment
criminal court
criminal lawyer
5. informal
senseless or deplorable
a criminal waste of money
Derived forms
criminally (ˈcriminally)
adverb
Word origin
C15: from Late Latin crīminālis; see crime, -al1
criminal in American English
(ˈkrɪmənəl)
adjective
1.
having the nature of crime; being a crime
2.
a.
involving or relating to crime
b.
dealing with law cases involving crime
3.
guilty of crime
4. Informal
regrettable or deplorable
noun
5.
a person guilty of, or legally convicted of, a crime
Derived forms
criminally (ˈcriminally)
adverb
Word origin
ME < OFr criminel < L criminalis < crimen: see crime
Examples of 'criminal' in a sentence
criminal
Tax officials are increasing the numbers of property raids they carry out as part of criminal investigations.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It warned that infringements could lead to civil or criminal action.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It is supposed to punish individuals who have been convicted of criminal acts.
The Sun (2016)
If she is ejected from office she could face criminal charges.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Taking him back into politics will send the message that any traitor and war criminal can be a politician.
The Sun (2016)
The scope for reducing the prison population without endangering public safety or confidence in the criminal justice system is in reducing long sentences.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I hope they catch the dangerous criminals who put her through such a life-changing ordeal.
The Sun (2016)
The high court trial in the former British colony closely resembled a UK criminal court proceeding.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I HAVE trodden the boards in the criminal courts for a number of years.
The Sun (2016)
They ensure the most dangerous criminals stay behind bars until they are of minimal risk.
The Sun (2011)
Since when did they have the right to ignore the rulings of our criminal courts?
The Sun (2012)
He admitted continuing accounts through the prison service for convicted criminals.
The Sun (2012)
What could be better than giving criminals sentences that actually fit the crime?
The Sun (2013)
One area we should look at is the criminal justice system.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The right warned that the squeeze on police numbers and budgets would let criminals run free.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They are also dismayed that foreign criminals are clogging our jails and causing mayhem on our roads.
The Sun (2012)
There needs to be not only a proper criminal investigation but also a full scale public inquiry.
The Sun (2015)
Turning the young offenders of today into the hardened criminals of tomorrow is not the answer.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Why not empty prisons of all criminals and fill them with law abiding people?
The Sun (2013)
Another area of misconduct is criminal action.
Torrington, Derek Personnel Management: A New Approach (1991)
The quality of most criminal legal aid solicitors is also appalling.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Police officers have been suspended and face possible criminal charges.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We should not merely be asking how we can increase surveillance and punishment to deter criminals.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Criminal court judges will continue to wear wigs.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Are all convicted criminals allowed out for funerals?
The Sun (2014)
The figures have raised concerns that crime mapping could be encouraging criminals and distorting crime statistics.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She will be sentenced over the criminal matter this month.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Of course it is right to force jailed criminals to serve out their time.
The Sun (2010)
It is also necessary to consider the role of the criminal justice system in this process.
Walklate, Sandra Victimology - the victim and the criminal justice process (1989)
It gives viewers the chance to join detectives as they hunt down dangerous criminals to keep us safe.
The Sun (2010)
Three journalists capture a war criminal while in Bosnia.
The Sun (2009)
Some would say he's a war criminal.
The Sun (2013)
In other languages
criminal
British English: criminal /ˈkrɪmɪnl/ ADJECTIVE
Criminal means connected with crime.
He had a criminal record for petty theft.
American English: criminal
Arabic: مُجْرِم
Brazilian Portuguese: criminal
Chinese: 犯罪的
Croatian: kriminalan
Czech: trestný
Danish: kriminel
Dutch: crimineel
European Spanish: delictivo
Finnish: rikollinen adjektiivi
French: criminel
German: kriminell
Greek: εγκληματικός
Italian: criminale
Japanese: 犯罪の
Korean: 범죄의
Norwegian: kriminell
Polish: przestępczy
European Portuguese: criminal
Romanian: infracțional
Russian: преступный
Latin American Spanish: delictivo
Swedish: krimimell
Thai: เกี่ยวกับอาชญากรรม
Turkish: suç
Ukrainian: злочинний
Vietnamese: liên quan đến tội phạm
British English: criminal /ˈkrɪmɪnl/ NOUN
A criminal is a person who has committed a crime.
They attacked the prison and set free nine criminals.
American English: criminal
Arabic: مُجْرِم
Brazilian Portuguese: criminoso
Chinese: 罪犯
Croatian: kriminalac
Czech: zločinec
Danish: kriminel
Dutch: crimineel
European Spanish: delincuente
Finnish: rikollinen henkilö
French: criminel
German: Verbrecher
Greek: εγκληματίας
Italian: criminale
Japanese: 犯罪者
Korean: 범인
Norwegian: forbryter
Polish: przestępca
European Portuguese: criminoso
Romanian: infractor
Russian: преступник
Latin American Spanish: delincuente
Swedish: brottsling
Thai: อาชญากร
Turkish: suçlu
Ukrainian: злочинець
Vietnamese: kẻ phạm tội
All related terms of 'criminal'
criminal code
the body of laws regulating how crimes are to be punished
criminal law
the body of law dealing with the constitution of offences and the punishment of offenders
career criminal
a person who earns his or her income through criminal activities
criminal court
A criminal court is a law court that deals with criminal offences .
criminal damage
intentionally damaging property that belongs to someone else, including public property
criminal lawyer
a lawyer who deals with criminal rather than civil cases
criminal record
a list of a person's criminal convictions
petty criminal
someone who commits petty crime or a petty crime
criminal activity
Activity is a situation in which a lot of things are happening or being done.
criminal assault
a punishable offence of attempting to harm another person through physical contact
criminal barrister
In England and Wales , a barrister is a lawyer who represents clients in the higher courts of law. Compare → solicitor .
criminal contempt
any seriously disrespectful act committed against the dignity or authority of a court
criminal liability
If you are liable for something such as a debt , you are legally responsible for it.
criminal offence
an action which is punishable under the law
criminal penalty
A penalty is a punishment that someone is given for doing something which is against a law or rule.
criminal profiling
the analysis of a person's psychological and behavioural characteristics, so as to assess whether they are likely to have committed a crime under investigation
criminal background
Your background is the kind of family you come from and the kind of education you have had. It can also refer to such things as your social and racial origins, your financial status , or the type of work experience that you have.
criminal conversation
(formerly) a common law action brought by a husband by which he claimed damages against an adulterer
criminal investigation
an investigation by the police into a crime
criminal negligence
negligence which is punishable under the law
criminal proceedings
action taken in a court to bring a criminal prosecution against someone
criminal wrongdoing
the act of causing harm to a person or damage to his or her interests
criminal justice system
the combination of courts and legal processes that deal with crime
Criminal Records Bureau
(in England and Wales ) a service offering employers and voluntary organizations access to police , health, and education records
Criminal Investigation Department
→ the full name for CID
International Criminal Police Organization
International Criminal Police Organization, an association of over 100 national police forces, devoted chiefly to fighting international crime
National Criminal Intelligence Service
(formerly) a policing agency which analysed and provided criminal intelligence
NCIS
National Criminal Intelligence Service
war crime
a crime committed in wartime in violation of the accepted rules and customs of war, such as genocide , ill-treatment of prisoners of war, etc
computer crime
crime perpetrated on or requiring the use of computers