criminal
/ˈkɹɪmənəl/
A term that bridges the gap between a legal status and a moral judgment. As a noun, it identifies someone who has committed a crime; as an adjective, it describes actions or systems that violate the law. While 'offender' is often used in clinical or judicial contexts to be more neutral, 'criminal' carries a heavier weight of social stigma and permanence. It suggests a breach of the social contract. In casual conversation, the word is frequently used hyperbolically (e.g., "It's criminal how much they charge for coffee") to describe something that feels unfair or outrageously wrong, even if no actual law is broken.
💬Casual Conversation
This new 'synergy circle' meeting schedule is a criminal waste of our bandwidth.
For real, man. My productivity is straight up tanking.
Meanings
A person who has committed a crime.
"The police are searching for the criminal who robbed the bank."
Relating to crime or the legal system that deals with it.
"The defendant faced several criminal charges in court."
Something that is illegal or constitutes a crime.
"It is criminal to drive under the influence of alcohol."
Extremely bad, shocking, or regrettable.
"It would be criminal to waste such a beautiful day indoors."
Collocations & Compounds
criminal record
a formal list of a person's criminal offenses.
He has a long criminal record.
criminal investigation
the process of gathering evidence about a crime and identifying the person responsible.
The police launched a criminal investigation into the robbery.
criminal justice
the system of laws and the bodies responsible for enforcing them.
She studied criminal justice in college.
criminal act
an action that is against the law.
It was a heinous criminal act.
criminal enterprise
a business or organization involved in illegal activities.
The gang was busted for running a vast criminal enterprise.
Idioms & Sayings
criminal negligence
a failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent and proper person would exercise in like circumstances.
The driver was charged with criminal negligence after the accident.
Etymology
The word 'criminal' entered English in the late 15th century, derived from the Medieval Latin word 'criminalis', meaning 'of or relating to a crime'. This, in turn, comes from the Latin 'crimen', meaning 'charge, crime, accusation'. The word's evolution reflects the legal and social concept of identifying and categorizing individuals who have committed offenses against the law.