criminal

Pluralcriminals

1. 1
   crime lawadjective

   Having to do with crime or the laws that punish it.

   She works as a lawyer in the criminal courts.

   The police opened a criminal investigation into the theft.

   UsageUsually comes before a noun: criminal law, a criminal record.

   Similarpenal

   Oppositecivil

   Note
2. 2
   offendernouncountable

   A person who has broken the law and is guilty of a crime.

   The police caught the criminal who stole the car.

   Many criminals work at night to avoid being seen.

   Similaroffender, lawbreaker, perpetrator

3. 3
   illegal actadjective

   Against the law in a way that counts as a crime.

   Stealing from a store is a criminal act.

   In many countries, taking bribes is criminal, and officials can go to prison for it.

   UsageOften comes after a verb: something is criminal. In criminal law, it means about crime, not against the law.

   Similarillegal, unlawful, illicit

   Oppositelegal, lawful, legitimate

4. 4
   adjective

   Having broken the law by committing a crime.

   Police arrested the criminal gang that robbed the bank.

   A criminal group ran the smuggling operation.

   UsageSaid of people or groups who break the law: a criminal gang. A criminal court just deals with crime.

   Similarguilty, lawbreaking, crooked

   Oppositelaw-abiding, innocent

   Note
5. 5
   shamefuladjectivefiguratively

   Very bad or shameful, even though it is not really against the law.

   It is criminal to waste so much good food.

   Throwing away those new toys was a criminal waste.

   UsageUsed to say something is very bad: it's criminal to waste food, a criminal waste.

   Similarscandalous, outrageous, shameful, deplorable, disgraceful

   Note

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