perpetrator

American  

[pur-pi-tray-ter] / ˈpɜr pɪˌtreɪ tər /

noun

• perpetrators
  plural

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• perpetrators
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of perpetrator

First recorded in 1560–70; from Late Latin, from Latin perpetrāt(us), past participle of perpetrāre “to carry out, execute, perform” + -or -or ¹ ( def. ); see perpetrate ( def. )

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Explanation

A perpetrator is someone who has committed a crime — or at least done something pretty bad. You've probably seen cops on TV trying to get a description of the perpetrator of a bank heist. The word perpetrator is so often associated with crime that police officers and other criminal justice types sometimes abbreviate it “perp.” A perpetrator is often a suspect until it has been proven that he or she carried out the offense. The word usually describes someone who's committed a crime, but any wrongdoing will do. If someone took Uncle Bob's cake and a trail of crumbs leads to your bedroom, your mom will know who the likely perpetrator is.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

perpetrator perpetrators

Echoing his words, President Zelensky said "the perpetrator of this evil must bear full responsibility according to the law", adding that Ukraine was counting on "a quick and thorough investigation of all circumstances".

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

Authorities are trying to learn how the perpetrator gained access to the beach, including whether they boated over from the other side of the lake, investigators have said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

It may be difficult to attribute a sole drone incident to a specific perpetrator.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

His conviction was overturned in 2022 when blood evidence ruled him out as the perpetrator.

From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2026

“So far, we have not the slightest clue as to the perpetrator of the crime.”

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

“The strategic advantage of cyber warfare lies in its stealth and ambiguity. Because it blurs the line between war and crime, attribution becomes difficult, enabling perpetrators to operate with minimal consequences.”

From Salon ● Oct. 15, 2026

Digital sleuths have for years misidentified accused perpetrators of high-profile shootings and other crimes, exposing them to abuse.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

“This kind of violence is unacceptable in San Francisco, and we devoted significant resources to holding the perpetrators of this incident accountable,” San Francisco Police Chief Derrick Lew said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

The Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales said she "welcomed" the report and told the BBC the realities of rural life for victims can be "frequently weaponised by their perpetrators".

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

Did Wallace ever get the perpetrators, as he promised?

From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry

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Related Words

• crook
• culprit
• miscreant
• trespasser
• violator

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