accomplice
Americannoun
-
accomplices
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of accomplice
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”; see complex
Explanation
An accomplice is a cooperator or participator, commonly in criminal acts. So you’re an accomplice to the gas station robbery if you distracted the store manager while your partner in crime raided the registers for cash. Coming from the Old French word complice, which means “a confederate,” an accomplice is an ally or partaker, sometimes in wrongdoing. Novelist Saul Bellow famously said that "when we ask for advice, we are usually looking for an accomplice.” What he means, in more direct terms, is that we run potential plans by others because we're looking for approval or someone to go along with us, not because we truly want their opinion.
Vocabulary lists containing accomplice
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Tuck Everlasting
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Wednesday Wars
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
The BBC revealed the attacks were ordered on behalf of Russia, with an anonymous handler known as EL promising payment to Carpiuc's accomplice, Roman Lavrynovych.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
His high-profile targets went on to include the future French president Nicolas Sarkozy in 1997 -- although in that case he had an accomplice lob the actual pie for fear of being recognised.
From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026
He named Quintero as his accomplice only after a browbeating from the authorities, who wanted to frame Quintero for a crime he didn’t commit, Trujillo told the jury.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
A Ukrainian man accused of conspiring to set fire to a car linked to Sir Keir Starmer has told a court that he refused to film the attack despite an alleged accomplice "begging" him to.
From BBC ● May 27, 2026
Even though Turner tried to close the door slowly and quietly, it shrieked out his presence like a guilty accomplice, and they all turned to look at him.
From "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary D. Schmidt
Investigators continue to probe whether al-Hammami had accomplices or other support.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
Pike’s accomplices were her then-boyfriend Tadaryl Shipp, who was 17 at the time, and Shadolla Peterson, who was 19.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
"From today, you will have to watch over your villages," Gombagui told around 100 local officials gathered in the village of Tibeita on a recent morning, urging them to "denounce" the prospectors and their accomplices.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
The two men were investigated as possible accomplices in the Monaco attack based on information that they "repeatedly transferred funds" to Berezovska's "crypto and bank accounts".
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
With Booth dead, and his chief accomplices under arrest, awaiting trial, it was time to cash in.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
