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guilt

[ gilt ]
/ gɪlt /
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noun
the fact or state of having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, especially against moral or penal law; culpability: He admitted his guilt.
a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined.
conduct involving the commission of such crimes, wrongs, etc.: to live a life of guilt.
verb (used with object) Informal.
to cause to feel guilty (often followed by out or into): She totally guilted me out, dude. He guilted me into picking up the tab.See also guilt-trip.
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

Origin of guilt

before 1000; Middle English gilt,Old English gylt offense

OTHER WORDS FROM guilt

non·guilt, nounpre·guilt, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH guilt

gild, gilt, guild, guilt
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use guilt in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for guilt

guilt
/ (ɡɪlt) /

noun
the fact or state of having done wrong or committed an offence
responsibility for a criminal or moral offence deserving punishment or a penalty
remorse or self-reproach caused by feeling that one is responsible for a wrong or offence
archaic sin or crime

Word Origin for guilt

Old English gylt, of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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