perpetrator
Americannoun
-
perpetrators
plural
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of perpetrator
First recorded in 1560–70; from Late Latin, from Latin perpetrāt(us), past participle of perpetrāre “to carry out, execute, perform” + -or -or 1 ( def. ); see perpetrate ( def. )
Explanation
A perpetrator is someone who has committed a crime — or at least done something pretty bad. You've probably seen cops on TV trying to get a description of the perpetrator of a bank heist. The word perpetrator is so often associated with crime that police officers and other criminal justice types sometimes abbreviate it “perp.” A perpetrator is often a suspect until it has been proven that he or she carried out the offense. The word usually describes someone who's committed a crime, but any wrongdoing will do. If someone took Uncle Bob's cake and a trail of crumbs leads to your bedroom, your mom will know who the likely perpetrator is.
Vocabulary lists containing perpetrator
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
His conviction was overturned in 2022 when blood evidence ruled him out as the perpetrator.
From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2026
In that case, the perpetrator was determined to be a disgruntled patient, Derderian said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026
"He is the perpetrator... he infiltrated my life and my family and my finances. He should be the one that should feel the shame, not me."
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
The perpetrator didn’t access other sensitive data, such as credit-card numbers or government-issued identification numbers, according to Coupang.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026
“They think the perpetrator drove a light blue Ford.”
From "Kira-Kira" by Cynthia Kadohata
The Foreign Office explained at the time that it had disclosed the incident to preempt any attempt by the perpetrators to manipulate the footage.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
IPP sentences were introduced in 2005 and allowed judges to give out sentences with no maximum tariff to perpetrators of serious crimes or repeat offenders.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
The perpetrators leverage claimed authority and apply tremendous pressure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
Hochman also said that his office has made it a priority to aggressively prosecute hate crimes and push back against allowing perpetrators of violent hate crimes to receive mental health diversion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
Did Wallace ever get the perpetrators, as he promised?
From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
