criminal

[ krim-uh-nl ]

adjective

1. of the nature of or involving crime.

   Synonyms: unlawful, felonious

   Antonyms: lawful

2. guilty of crime.

   Antonyms: innocent

3. Law. of or relating to crime or its punishment:

   a criminal proceeding.

4. senseless; foolish:

   It's criminal to waste so much good food.

5. exorbitant; grossly overpriced:

   They charge absolutely criminal prices.

noun

1. a person guilty or convicted of a crime.

   Synonyms: gangster, hoodlum, crook, felon, culprit, transgressor, evildoer, malefactor

criminal

/ ˈkrɪmɪnəl /

noun

1. a person charged with and convicted of crime
2. a person who commits crimes for a living

adjective

1. of, involving, or guilty of crime
2. prenominal of or relating to crime or its punishment

   criminal lawyer

   criminal court

3. informal.
   senseless or deplorable

   a criminal waste of money

Derived Forms

• ˈcriminally, adverb

Other Words From

• crim·i·nal·ly adverb
• non·crim·i·nal adjective noun
• non·crim·i·nal·ly adverb
• qua·si-crim·i·nal adjective
• qua·si-crim·i·nal·ly adverb
• sub·crim·i·nal adjective
• sub·crim·i·nal·ly adverb
• su·per·crim·i·nal adjective noun
• su·per·crim·i·nal·ly adverb
• un·crim·i·nal adjective
• un·crim·i·nal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of criminal¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin crīminālis, from Latin crīmin- (stem of crīmen “accusation, blame, charge”; crime ) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of criminal¹

C15: from Late Latin crīminālis; see crime , -al ¹

Synonym Study

See illegal.

Example Sentences

The judges who handle arraignments at criminal court in all five boroughs have a small fraction of their usual caseloads.

From The Daily Beast

But most likely it was linked to the way priests identify with the poor in the face of government and criminal abuses.

From The Daily Beast

Like any service for hire, it is extremely important for the traffickers to provide a reputable service, criminal as it is.

From The Daily Beast

There was the empathetic way she dealt with the revelation that Mrs. Baxter is a former criminal.

From The Daily Beast

Having a criminal record can reduce the likelihood of getting a callback or job offer by 50 percent.

From The Daily Beast

The policemen looked dull and heavy, as if never again would any one be criminal, and as if they had come to know it.

From Project Gutenberg

There, the criminal, under sentence of death for the worst offences, is suffered to see those near and dear to him.

From Project Gutenberg

The distinction also between civil and criminal law requires explanation.

From Project Gutenberg

When he does this he ceases to be a socialist pure and simple and becomes a criminal as well.

From Project Gutenberg

In short, I shall begin life all over again—as if I were a criminal in disguise instead of the sport of circumstances.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• corrupt
• deplorable
• illegal
• illegitimate
• illicit
• scandalous
• senseless
• unlawful
• vicious