Criminal
/ˈkrɪmɪnəl/
Definitions
2 meaningsA person who has committed a crime.
/ˈkrɪmɪnəl/
The police are trying to catch the criminal.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone broke the law – that person is a criminal. Like, if someone steals something, they are a criminal!
👶 For kids: Someone who does something bad that breaks the rules is a criminal.
More Examples
The court found the criminal guilty and sentenced him to prison.
The criminal attempted to escape the prison but was caught by the guards.
How It's Used
"The police apprehended the criminal after a long chase."
Relating to crime; of the nature of a crime.
/ˈkrɪmɪnəl/
The evidence proved the act was a criminal offense.
💡 Simply: If something is 'criminal', it's about breaking the law. Like, it’s criminal to steal because it's against the law.
👶 For kids: If something is criminal, it means it has to do with doing something bad that breaks the rules.
More Examples
Criminal negligence resulted in the accident.
The lawyer argued the defendant had a criminal intent.
How It's Used
"The judge declared the act criminal."
"The news reported on the criminal activity in the area."
Idioms & expressions
criminal justice
The system of law enforcement, courts, and corrections designed to protect society from criminal behavior.
"He is studying criminal justice at university."
criminal record
An official record of a person's previous convictions.
"Having a criminal record can make it difficult to find a job."
From Medieval Latin criminalis, from crimen ('crime').
The word 'criminal' has been used in legal and social contexts since the Middle Ages, evolving alongside the development of legal systems.
Memory tip
Think of a 'crim' and add '-inal' to remember this word means a person guilty of crimes.