guilt

[gilt]

noun

1. the fact or state of having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, especially against moral or penal law; culpability.

   He admitted his guilt.

   Antonyms: innocence

2. a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined.

3. conduct involving the commission of such crimes, wrongs, etc..

   to live a life of guilt.

   Synonyms: criminality

verb (used with object)

Informal.

1. to cause to feel guilty (often followed by out orinto ).

   She totally guilted me out, dude. He guilted me into picking up the tab.

guilt

/ ɡɪlt /

noun

1. the fact or state of having done wrong or committed an offence

2. responsibility for a criminal or moral offence deserving punishment or a penalty

3. remorse or self-reproach caused by feeling that one is responsible for a wrong or offence

4. archaic,  sin or crime

Other Word Forms

• nonguilt noun
• preguilt noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of guilt¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English gilt, Old English gylt “offense”

Word History and Origins

Origin of guilt¹

Old English gylt, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

"I felt guilt and an acute sense that there had to be loss," she confessed.

From BBC

The guilt weighed heavily on them, as did the burden of the complex financial arrangements that come with care homes.

From BBC

Parents of Lecka's victims told of their feelings of heartbreak, guilt and distrust in victim impact statements at Kingston Crown Court.

From BBC

She becomes so wrapped up in her own fame that she doesn’t remember that there was a friend there that day, filming the fatal accident, and he’s drowning in his grief and guilt.

From Los Angeles Times

Amazon didn’t admit guilt to the allegations by settling the lawsuit.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• culpability 
• disgrace 
• indiscretion 
• liability 
• regret 
• remorse 
• responsibility 
• shame 
• sin 
• stigma