criminals
SayKRIM-i-nuhlz/ˈkɹɪmɪnəlz/
- 1Plural of criminal.
Hardened criminals were transferred to a higher-security facility overnight.
Investigators believe several criminals worked together on the heist.
Note
A regular plural formed with -s, and one that tells you which word you are reading. Criminal works as both noun and adjective (criminal negligence, a criminal waste of talent), but English adjectives never take a plural ending, so this spelling can only be the noun: people guilty of crimes. The adjective's figurative sense, 'abhorrent', stays behind and never carries over to the plural.
criminals is a form of criminal
criminal, noun: A person who is guilty of a crime, especially one who breaks the law. Full entry
- Forms
- criminalcriminals plural
- Spelling
- criminal → criminals: add -s
Use it in a sentence
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