Meaning & Definition of word "Culprit"
Culprit
/ˈkʌl.prɪt/
noun:
- 1. A person who is responsible for a crime or wrongdoing.
- Example: The police swiftly apprehended the culprit behind the string of burglaries.
- 2. A person or thing responsible for a specified problem or fault.
- Example: The investigation revealed that pollution was the main culprit of the river's decline in health.
- 3. A guilty party in a legal context.
- Example: In court, the culprit pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Etymology
●From Latin 'culpan', meaning blame or fault.
Common Phrases and Expressions
foul play:
deceptive or unfair behavior, often in a crime context
a scapegoat:
someone who is unfairly blamed for problems not of their making
Related Words
culpable:
deserving blame
culpability:
the quality of being guilty or responsible for a fault
Slang Meanings of culprit
Meaning: suspect
● Example Sentence: That guy is the main suspect; he might be the culprit.
Meaning: bad guy
● Example Sentence: In every story, there's always a culprit, the bad guy everyone loves to hate.