culprit

[kuhl-prit]

noun

1. a person or other agent guilty of or responsible for an offense or fault.

2. a person arraigned for an offense.

culprit

/ ˈkʌlprɪt /

noun

1. law a person awaiting trial, esp one who has pleaded not guilty

2. the person responsible for a particular offence, misdeed, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of culprit¹

1670–80; traditionally explained as cul (representing Latin culpābilis guilty) + prit (representing Anglo-French prest ready), marking the prosecution as ready to prove the defendant's guilt. See culpable, presto

Word History and Origins

Origin of culprit¹

C17: from Anglo-French cul-, short for culpable guilty + prit ready, indicating that the prosecution was ready to prove the guilt of the one charged

Example Sentences

In that speech, she cited lax competition and weak business investment as the main culprits.

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Acetaminophen was one of the potential culprits he wanted to investigate when he launched his search for the cause of autism, the person said.

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Barry Josephson, a Hollywood producer whose home near the fire’s origin was among a few spared total destruction, said “it’s very satisfying that a culprit will be brought to justice.”

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The culprit in both cases is high interest rates.

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But there are some clues that might help you identify the exact culprit.

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Related Words

• criminal 
• felon 
• fugitive 
• miscreant 
• offender 
• wrongdoer