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

For many, this was an admission of his guilt.

Read more on BBC

The perpetrator would have to keep at least one clue from his victims to feign innocence, but a subtle inconsistency would allow others to infer his guilt.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Seven people were found guilt in May for bullying him online, receiving fines and suspended sentences.

Read more on Barron's

Each, it will transpire, carries a burden of guilt dating from the invasion.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But the book reveals the personal guilt he felt after Princess Diana died in 1997 - to the extent that he joined the mourning crowds at Buckingham Palace.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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