Dictionary.com

perpetrate

[ pur-pi-treyt ]
/ ˈpɜr pɪˌtreɪt /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: perpetrate / perpetrated / perpetrating / perpetrator on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), per·pe·trat·ed, per·pe·trat·ing.
to commit: to perpetrate a crime.
to present, execute, or do in a poor or tasteless manner: Who perpetrated this so-called comedy?
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?

Origin of perpetrate

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin perpetrātus (past participle of perpetrāre “to carry out, execute, perform”), equivalent to per- per- + -petr- (combining form of patrāre “to father, bring abou”t; see pater) + -ā- thematic vowel + -tus past participle suffix; see -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM perpetrate

per·pe·tra·ble [pur-pi-truh-buhl], /ˈpɜr pɪ trə bəl/, adjectiveper·pe·tra·tion [pur-pi-trey-shuhn], /ˌpɜr pɪˈtreɪ ʃən/, nounper·pe·tra·tor, nounnon·per·pe·tra·tion, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH perpetrate

perpetrate , perpetuate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use perpetrate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for perpetrate

perpetrate
/ (ˈpɜːpɪˌtreɪt) /

verb
(tr) to perform or be responsible for (a deception, crime, etc)

Derived forms of perpetrate

perpetration, nounperpetrator, noun

Word Origin for perpetrate

C16: from Latin perpetrāre, from per- (thoroughly) + patrāre to perform, perhaps from pater father, leader in the performance of sacred rites

usage for perpetrate

Perpetrate and perpetuate are sometimes confused: he must answer for the crimes he has perpetrated (not perpetuated); the book helped to perpetuate (not perpetrate) some of the myths surrounding his early life
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
FEEDBACK