ENGLISH
REFERENCE

accomplices

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //əˈkɑmpɫəsəz// UK //ɐkˈɒmplɪsɪz// ac·com·plices

n. people who help someone else commit a crime or do something wrong. You are an accomplice even if you do not do the main part of the crime yourself.

n. individuals who knowingly and voluntarily assist another in the commission of a crime or wrongdoing. Often used in legal contexts to describe those who provide aid or encouragement before or during an illegal act.


SIMPLE

The police are looking for his accomplices.

CONTEXTUAL

The thief could not have entered the building without the help of two accomplices who worked as security guards.

COMPLEX

While the mastermind planned the heist from afar, his accomplices were the ones who actually breached the vault and handled the stolen goods.

Synonyms
Usage

Frequently used in the plural to describe a group of collaborators; often takes the preposition 'to' when referring to a specific crime.

Pitfall

he was an accomplice of the murderhe was an accomplice to the murderWhen linking the person to the specific crime they helped with, the preposition 'to' is required rather than 'of'.

© 2026 English Reference