perp

¹

[purp]

noun

Police Slang.

1. the perpetrator of a crime.

perp.

²

abbreviation

1. perpendicular.

perp

/ pɜːp /

noun

1. informal,  a person who has committed a crime

Word History and Origins

Origin of perp¹

C20: from _perpetrate

Example Sentences

“They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk,” said the lawyer, Jim Trusty.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Several media outlets have reported that FBI leadership had planned a public perp walk for Comey.

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An FBI agent has reportedly been suspended because they refused to participate in a "perp walk" of the bureau's former director James Comey, US media reports.

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During a perp walk, law enforcement publicly escort a person accused of a crime as they are transported outside a police station or courthouse, usually in view of media cameras.

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Oswald was killed two days later by Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby during a perp walk broadcast on live television.

Read more on Los Angeles Times