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guilty

adj.
US //ˈɡɪɫti// UK //ɡˈɪlti// guilty
  1. 1 legal verdict (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate Law

    officially decided by a court to have committed a crime.

    judicially determined to have committed a specific offence. Often used as a complement after the verb 'find' or 'plead'.

    Example

    The jury found the man guilty of stealing the car after a long trial.

    Example

    After deliberating for three days, the jury returned a guilty verdict on all counts of fraud and conspiracy.

    Usage

    Commonly follows the verbs 'plead' or 'find'.
  2. 2 feeling remorse (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    feeling bad or ashamed because you have done something wrong.

    experiencing a sense of remorse or self-reproach for a perceived moral or social transgression.

    Example

    I felt guilty about eating the last piece of cake without asking.

    Example

    She felt deeply guilty for missing her sister's graduation, even though the flight cancellation was beyond her control.

    Usage

    Often takes the preposition 'about' or 'for'.
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  1. 3 responsible for a mistake (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    responsible for doing something dishonest or wrong, even if it is not a crime.

    responsible for a specified error, lapse, or dishonest act. Used to assign blame in non-legal contexts.

    Example

    The manager was guilty of making a very poor decision that cost the company money.

    Example

    The report suggested that the administration was guilty of negligence in maintaining the safety equipment.

    Usage

    Usually followed by the preposition 'of'.
Origin

From Middle English gilty, gulty, from Old English gyltiġ (“offending, guilty”); equivalent to guilt + -y.

Idioms1 entry

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