Definition
A culprit is a person who is responsible for a crime or other wrongdoing.
Pronunciation
US English
UK English
Part of Speech
Noun
Synonyms
offender, wrongdoer, perpetrator, criminal, suspect
Antonyms
victim, witness
Word Forms
| Part of Speech | Words |
|---|---|
| Noun | culprit, culprits |
| Verb | None |
| Adjective | None |
| Adverb | None |
Example Sentences
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The police have finally caught the culprit who committed the robbery last week.
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The culprit was identified by the CCTV footage of the crime scene.
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Despite being the actual culprit, he was able to frame someone else for the crime.
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The judge was determined to find the real culprit and deliver justice to the victim.
Usage
The word “culprit” is used to refer to a person who has committed a crime or is responsible for some other wrongdoing. It is typically used in a legal context to describe someone who has been accused of or caught in the act of committing a crime. The word is often used in news reports and court cases to refer to the person who is being held responsible for the crime.
The word “culprit” comes from the Old French word “culprit,” which means “guilty.” The word “cul” means “backside” or “butt,” and the word “prit” means “taken,” so the original meaning of the word was “caught by the buttocks.” This was a reference to a punishment in medieval times where the culprit was held by the buttocks and paraded through the streets.
In modern usage, the word “culprit” has lost its original connotation of physical punishment and is now used to refer to the person who is responsible for a crime or wrongdoing. It is often used in a legal context to describe someone who has been accused of or caught in the act of committing a crime. The word can be used to describe both major and minor crimes, from petty theft to murder.
Overall, the word “culprit” is a useful word to describe someone who is responsible for a crime or other wrongdoing. It is a word that is commonly used in legal and journalistic contexts, and it can help to clarify who is being held responsible for a particular act.