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
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Tuck Everlasting
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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 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
As he is played by the most charming man in television, we are instinctively on his side — and Lucky loves him, even though he made her, still a child, an accomplice.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Could he have had an accomplice secretly conveying perfect computer-generated moves?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026
The letter said applicants could cheat in a variety of ways, including using impersonators, working with an accomplice via screen–sharing or earpieces, or getting help from AI chatbots.
From BBC ● Mar. 16, 2026
When Chango found out, he tracked down his inept accomplice to the foot of a palm tree.
From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García
The court ruled that he did not act alone, but after Knox and Sollecito were acquitted no other accomplices were convicted.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
Prosecutors said the detained person is "strongly suspected of having committed the offences, and that there is a risk of flight, destruction of evidence, and collusion with accomplices or witnesses".
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
Massie has been one of the loudest House voices prodding the Trump administration to release more information on the sex offender and his accomplices.
From Slate ● May 19, 2026
After Lam’s accomplices purposely used incorrect credentials to access the man’s Google account, the investor got a security alert, Jonathan Stratton, an assistant U.S. attorney, said at Lam’s bail hearing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2026
Of his three accomplices, he needed David Herold the most.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
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.
