accomplice

[ uh-kom-plis ]

noun

1. a person who knowingly helps another in a crime or wrongdoing, often as a subordinate.

accomplice

/ əˈkʌm-; əˈkɒmplɪs /

noun

1. a person who helps another in committing a crime

Word History and Origins

Origin of accomplice¹

First recorded in 1475–85; a(c) of uncertain origin + late Middle English complice, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin complici- (stem of complex ) “partner”; complex

Word History and Origins

Origin of accomplice¹

C15: from a complice, interpreted as one word. See complice

Example Sentences

The information will be stored in a confidential database accessible to federal law enforcement and shared with banks who are often unwitting accomplices to international corruption.

From Fortune

At the same time, an accomplice demanded money from a worker near the restaurant’s safe, according to an Arizona Daily Sun article.

From Washington Post

In June 1973, with Heaton and other accomplices, Dugdale stole art and silver from the ancestral manse of her childhood in East Devon.

From Washington Post

However, when they show up, it’s with an accomplice, and they look nothing like their profile picture.

From No Straight News

We’ve already heard a lot about the suppliers and their accomplices.

From Freakonomics

Ruiz and Aris Maldonado, an alleged accomplice, were arrested on Tuesday.

From The Daily Beast

But everything goes wrong right from the start with one accomplice running out the door, unable to go through with it.

From The Daily Beast

Art can be an accomplice to the process of destroying Eden but is never the sole agent.

From The Daily Beast

Whether Talbot had a Terry Nichols—or any accomplice not secretly working against him—also remains unknown.

From The Daily Beast

A fourth man, Kyle Hartwell, was arrested and charged for being an accomplice.

From The Daily Beast

Now, to become an accomplice in any plan whatever, it is necessary to give advice, or to furnish means of execution.

From Project Gutenberg

The impudence of the authorities, to decoy an unsuspecting workingman across the State line, and then arrest him as my accomplice!

From Project Gutenberg

It is but too true that one fanatic is sufficient for the commission of a parricide, without any accomplice.

From Project Gutenberg

In the first place, if your husband is unfaithful to you, understand clearly that I am not his accomplice.

From Project Gutenberg

“I will be the exploiter and not the accomplice of modern Satanism,” said the pious Doctor Bataille.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aide
• associate
• co-conspirator
• collaborator
• conspirator