# perp

CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/perp
Updated: 2026-10-15

## Definition

a person who committed a crime — the one the police are looking for. Short for perpetrator, and you hear it a lot in crime shows.

For teachers: a person believed to have committed a crime, especially as identified by police or journalists. Shortened from perpetrator.

## Examples

- The police catch the perp near the station.
- The officers describe the perp as tall and wearing a red jacket after the shop robbery.
- The detective interviewed witnesses for hours, hoping one detail would reveal where the perp had gone after leaving the alley.

## Synonyms

perpetrator, culprit, criminal, offender, wrongdoer, lawbreaker

## Antonyms

victim

---

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.