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

His followers see his shameless disregard for the law as proof of strength, not guilt.

Read more on Salon

Still, he also feels a tinge of guilt.

Read more on Salon

But it’s even more fun when you’re not riddled with guilt.

Read more on MarketWatch

As she marched back to the barn that night, the robot felt something like worry and confusion and guilt.

Read more on Literature

The fear of missing out proved the most powerful—more than emotional neglect or guilt.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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