perpetrator
[pur-pi-trey-ter]
- a person who perpetrates, or commits, an illegal, criminal, or evil act: The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be found and punished to the fullest extent of the law.
Show More
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
executionercriminalsoldierassassinperpetratorculpritmiscreantcrooktrespasserviolatorhomicidekillerbutcherslayercutthroatenforcermalefactoroffenderfelontransgressorExamples from the Web for perpetrator
Contemporary Examples
Choosing not to pursue a perpetrator is not admittance of lies or false motives.
However, Brunner was not the only perpetrator of the Holocaust mooching around the streets of the Syrian capital.
Ultimately, all it took was the mere mention of a lawyer for the perpetrator to delete the accounts and disappear completely.
Another surveillance video, showing the perpetrator with hammer in hand, is here.
I asked Greenberg if there had ever been a Dr. Phil show devoted solely to a perpetrator of a crime.
The Mommy Blogger Who Tried to Kill Her Autistic Daughter Talks to Dr. PhilElizabeth Picciuto
October 1, 2014
Historical Examples
His sole ambition just now was to fix the crime definitely on the perpetrator.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
The perpetrator is educated, wise, enjoys the respect of his fellows.
The Hunted OutlawAnonymous
She had no doubt who was the perpetrator of this wickedness; but how was she to follow?
A Simple StoryMrs. Inchbald
But as to the perpetrator, if there where no proofs there were yet fewer doubts.
Bob, Son of BattleAlfred Ollivant
La Corriveau was arrested as the perpetrator of the atrocious deed.
The Golden DogWilliam Kirby
Word Origin and History for perpetrator
n.
literally "the one who did it" (in English usually an evil act), 1560s, from Late Latin perpetrator, agent noun of perpetrare "to perform, to accomplish" (see perpetrate). Fem. forms are perpetratress (1811, of Nero's poisoner Locusta); perpetratrix (1862, in reference to Charlotte Corday).
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper