Criminal — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈkri-mə-nᵊl/ crim·i·nal

Meaning & Definition of Criminal

Criminal (adjective)

  1. relating to, involving, or being a crime
  2. relating to crime or to the prosecution of suspects in a crime
  3. guilty of crime; also, of or befitting a criminal

Criminal (noun)

  1. one who has committed a crime
  2. a person who has been convicted of a crime

Criminal (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. contrary to or forbidden by law

    "people should know with certainty that criminal behavior will be punished"

    similar: felonious, illegal, illegitimate, illicit, lawless, unlawful, wrongful
    related: bad, evil, immoral, shameful, sinful, unethical, wicked, wrong, blamable, blameworthy, censurable, reprehensible, banned, barred, contraband, criminalized, disallowed, discouraged, forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, adulterine, bootleg, unauthorized, unlicensed, unsanctioned, under-the-counter, under-the-table, corrupt, unprincipled, unscrupulous, villainous
    opposite: lawful, legal, legitimate
    near: ethical, good, just, principled, right, righteous, virtuous, allowed, permitted, authorized, licensed, approved, endorsed, sanctioned, abetted, encouraged, promoted, suggested, supported, correct, decent, decorous, proper, seemly

Criminal (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person who has committed a crime

    "car thieves, pickpockets, burglars, and other criminals"

    similar: crook, culprit, lawbreaker, malefactor, miscreant, offender
    related: misdemeanant, accomplice, principal, desperado, outlaw, convict, jailbird, perp, perpetrator, evildoer, gallows bird, misdoer, misfeasor, sinner, transgressor, trespasser, villain, wrongdoer, blackhander, button man, gangster, hoodlum, hooligan, mobster, racketeer, thug, enforcer, gun, gunman, gunsel (slang), hit man, triggerman, backslider, recidivist, relapser, repeater, accused, arrestee, defendant, detainee, fish, suspect
    near: gangbuster, lawman

Related Entry: Criminal conversation (noun)

Criminal conversation is a different word from Criminal. The synonyms below are for criminal conversation, not for criminal.

  1. as in love, love affair

    similar: affair, amour, fling, love, love affair, romance, disloyalty, faithlessness, falseness, inconstancy, perfidiousness, perfidy, treachery, adultery, cheating, infidelity, misconduct, two-timing, unfaithfulness, free love, promiscuity, entanglement, flirtation, liaison, passion, attachment, infatuation, intrigue
    opposite: faithfulness, fidelity, allegiance, constancy, dedication, devotedness, devotion, fealty, loyalty, steadfastness

Related Entry: Criminal conversations (noun)

Criminal conversations is a different word from Criminal. The synonyms below are for criminal conversations, not for criminal.

  1. as in loves, love affairs

    similar: affairs, amours, flings, love affairs, loves, romances, disloyalties, inconstancies, perfidies, treacheries, adulteries, infidelities, misconducts, free loves, promiscuities, liaisons, passions, entanglements, flirtations, attachments, infatuations, intrigues
    opposite: fidelities, allegiances, constancies, dedications, devotions, fealties, loyalties

Related Entry: Criminal court (noun)

Criminal court is a different word from Criminal. The synonyms below are for criminal court, not for criminal.

  1. as in judiciary, judicatory

    similar: judicatory, judicature, judiciary, bar, bench, court, forum, tribunal, high court, supreme court, court-martial, drumhead court-martial, inquisition, kangaroo court

Related Entry: Criminal courts (noun)

Criminal courts is a different word from Criminal. The synonyms below are for criminal courts, not for criminal.

  1. as in judiciaries, judicatories

    similar: judicatories, judicatures, judiciaries, bars, benches, courts, forums, tribunals, high courts, supreme courts, courts-martial, drumhead court-martials, inquisitions, kangaroo courts

Related Entry: Criminal lawyer (noun)

Criminal lawyer is a different word from Criminal. The synonyms below are for criminal lawyer, not for criminal.

  1. as in public defender, trial lawyer

    similar: mouthpiece (slang), public defender, trial lawyer, district attorney, prosecuting attorney, prosecutor, solicitor, jurist, cocounsel, lawgiver, lawmaker, legislator, solon, advocate, attorney, attorney-at-law, counsel, counselor, counselor-at-law, lawyer, legal eagle, ambulance chaser, pettifogger, Philadelphia lawyer, shyster

Related Entry: Criminal lawyers (noun)

Criminal lawyers is a different word from Criminal. The synonyms below are for criminal lawyers, not for criminal.

  1. as in public defenders, trial lawyers

    similar: mouthpieces (slang), public defenders, trial lawyers, district attorneys, prosecuting attorneys, prosecutors, solicitors, jurists, cocounsels, lawgivers, lawmakers, legislators, solons, advocates, attorneys, attorneys-at-law, counselors, counselors-at-law, counsels, lawyers, legal eagles, ambulance chasers, pettifoggers, Philadelphia lawyers, shysters

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Criminal

The most common words with a similar meaning to Criminal:

felonious, illegal, illegitimate, illicit, lawless, unlawful, wrongful, crook, culprit, lawbreaker, malefactor, miscreant, offender

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Criminal

Words with the opposite meaning of Criminal:

lawful, legal, legitimate

Related Words for Criminal

bad, evil, immoral, shameful, sinful, unethical, wicked, wrong, blamable, blameworthy, censurable, reprehensible, banned, barred, contraband, criminalized, disallowed, discouraged, forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, adulterine, bootleg, unauthorized, unlicensed, unsanctioned, under-the-counter, under-the-table

Near Antonyms of Criminal

ethical, good, just, principled, right, righteous, virtuous, allowed, permitted, authorized, licensed, approved, endorsed, sanctioned, abetted, encouraged, promoted, suggested, supported, correct, decent, decorous, proper, seemly, gangbuster, lawman

Word Forms of Criminal

Derived words: criminally (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Criminal

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French criminal, borrowed from Latin crīminālis, from crīmin-, crīmen "indictment, crime" + -ālis -al:1

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Criminal

Words & Phrases Containing Criminal

criminal conversation, criminal court, criminal law, criminal lawyer, criminal mind, criminal record, career criminal

Frequently Asked Questions about Criminal

What does "Criminal" mean?

"Criminal" means relating to, involving, or being a crime. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: relating to, involving, or being a crime. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Criminal"?

Other words for "Criminal" include felonious, illegal, illegitimate, illicit, lawless, unlawful, wrongful and crook. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Criminal" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Criminal"?

There are 89 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Criminal". Common alternatives include felonious, illegal, illegitimate, illicit, lawless, unlawful, wrongful, crook, culprit and lawbreaker.

What is the opposite of "Criminal"?

Antonyms of "Criminal" include lawful, legal and legitimate. Near antonyms include ethical, good, just and principled.

How do you use "Criminal" in a sentence?

Examples of "Criminal" in a sentence: "people should know with certainty that criminal behavior will be punished"; "car thieves, pickpockets, burglars, and other criminals".

Is "Criminal" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Criminal" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Criminal" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Criminal" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Criminal"?

"Criminal" is pronounced /ˈkri-mə-nᵊl/ and divided into syllables as crim·i·nal.