Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Relating to or involving crime: Describes something connected with illegal acts or offenses against the law.
   • Guilty of crime: Describes a person who has committed a crime.
   • Morally wrong; deplorable: Used to describe an action or situation that is considered shockingly bad or wasteful, deserving severe criticism.

2. Noun:

   • A person who has committed a crime: Refers to someone who has performed an act prohibited by law and is often, but not always, legally convicted.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The police are investigating the criminal activity in the downtown area.
  • He was found to be criminal in his actions and was sentenced to prison.
  • It is a criminal waste of resources to throw away perfectly good food.

• Noun:

  • The criminal was apprehended after a short chase.
  • She works as a lawyer defending alleged criminals.

Advanced Usage

• "Criminal negligence": A legal concept where a person's failure to act with reasonable care results in serious harm or death, potentially leading to criminal charges.

  • The company executive was charged with criminal negligence after the factory accident.

• "Criminal intent" (or "mens rea"): The mental state of intending to commit a crime, which is often a necessary element for a conviction.

  • The prosecution must prove criminal intent beyond a reasonable doubt.

Variants and Related Words

• Criminality (n): The state of being criminal; criminal behavior or activities.

  • The report studied the root causes of urban criminality.

• Criminally (adv): In a criminal manner; to a shocking or deplorable degree.

  • He acted criminally. / The plan was criminally negligent.

• Criminalize (v): To make an activity illegal by law.

  • The new bill seeks to criminalize the possession of certain substances.

Synonyms

• Adjective (illegal): Unlawful, illicit, felonious.
• Adjective (deplorable): Shameful, reprehensible, disgraceful.
• Noun (offender): Lawbreaker, felon, culprit, delinquent.

Related Phrases

• "Criminal record": An official record of a person's criminal history.

  • Having a criminal record can make it difficult to find a job.

• "Criminal justice system": The system of law enforcement, courts, and corrections involved in apprehending, prosecuting, defending, sentencing, and punishing those suspected or convicted of crimes.

  • He studied reforms to the criminal justice system.

Idioms

• "A criminal waste": An extreme and shocking waste of something valuable.

  • Leaving that talent unused is a criminal waste.

• "Partner in crime": (Informal, often humorous) A close friend or accomplice with whom one shares activities, not necessarily illegal ones.

  • My best friend is my partner in crime for all my adventures.

Adjective

1. involving or being or having the nature of a crime
   • a criminal offense
   • criminal abuse
   • felonious intent
2. guilty of crime or serious offense
   • criminal in the sight of God and man
3. bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
   • a criminal waste of talent
   • a deplorable act of violence
   • adultery is as reprehensible for a husband as for a wife

Noun

1. someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime