ENGLISH
REFERENCE

criminal

n. · adj.
US //ˈkɹɪmənəɫ// UK //kɹˈɪmɪnəl// crim·i·nal
  1. 1 a person who breaks the law (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Law

    someone who has committed a crime or has been found guilty by a court.

    a person who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of an offence.

    Example

    The police are still searching for the criminal who robbed the bank.

    Example

    The justice system aims to rehabilitate the criminal rather than simply imposing a punitive sentence for the sake of retribution.
  2. 2 illegal (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate Law

    describing an action that is against the law.

    relating to, involving, or being a crime; forbidden by law.

    Example

    Stealing a car is a serious criminal act that can lead to prison.

    Example

    The investigation uncovered a vast criminal network involved in international money laundering and tax evasion.
Show 2 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 relating to the law system (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Law

    relating to the part of the legal system that deals with crimes.

    relating to the administration of penal law or the prosecution of crimes.

    Example

    She decided to study criminal law because she wanted to be a prosecutor.

    Example

    The defendant's criminal record was presented to the judge during the sentencing phase of the trial.
  2. 4 shameful or wasteful (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    used to describe something that is very unfair, wasteful, or disappointing.

    deplorable, shocking, or extremely wasteful; used as a figurative intensifier for undesirable situations.

    Example

    It is criminal to waste so much good food when people are hungry.

    Example

    The neglect of such a beautiful historic building is absolutely criminal, especially given the city's recent investment in urban renewal.
Origin

From Middle English cryminal, borrowed from Anglo-Norman criminal, from Late Latin criminalis, from Latin crimen (“crime”).

Word family

© 2026 English Reference