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.