# criminal

/ˈkɹɪmənəɫ/ (US) · /kɹˈɪmɪnəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/criminal
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a person who breaks the law

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- The police are still searching for the criminal who robbed the bank.
- The justice system aims to rehabilitate the criminal rather than simply imposing a punitive sentence for the sake of retribution.

### 2. illegal

adjective · CEFR B1

describing an action that is against the law.

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

- Stealing a car is a serious criminal act that can lead to prison.
- The investigation uncovered a vast criminal network involved in international money laundering and tax evasion.

### 3. relating to the law system

adjective · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: relating to the administration of penal law or the prosecution of crimes.

- She decided to study criminal law because she wanted to be a prosecutor.
- The defendant's criminal record was presented to the judge during the sentencing phase of the trial.

### 4. shameful or wasteful

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

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

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

- It is criminal to waste so much good food when people are hungry.
- The neglect of such a beautiful historic building is absolutely criminal, especially given the city's recent investment in urban renewal.

## Examples

- The police caught the criminal shortly after the robbery.
- The judge sentenced the criminal to five years in prison for his role in the fraud.
- Criminologists often study the social and economic factors that might lead a person to become a habitual criminal rather than a law-abiding citizen.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.