criminal

criminal
I UK [ˈkrɪmɪn(ə)l] / US adjective ***
1) [usually before noun] relating to illegal acts

The book examines the causes of criminal behaviour.

a criminal offence/act:

It is a criminal offence to threaten someone with violence.

a) [only before noun] relating to parts of the legal system that deal with crime

the criminal justice system

Police are conducting a criminal investigation into his business affairs.

criminal charges (= official statements saying that someone is accused by the police of committing a crime):

You could face criminal charges.

criminal proceedings (= the process of examining a crime in a court of law):

There is not enough evidence to start criminal proceedings against him.

b) [only before noun] used about people who often commit crimes

the criminal element in society

the criminal underworld (= people who regularly commit crimes):

links between politicians and the criminal underworld

2) bad, wrong, or unfair in a way that makes you angry

It's criminal the way they treat their animals.

That's a criminal waste of resources.


II UK [ˈkrɪmɪn(ə)l] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "criminal":
singular criminal plural criminals
*
someone who has committed a crime

The system is designed to prevent criminals from reoffending.

a convicted criminal (= one who has been judged guilty in a court of law):

Convicted criminals should not profit from publicizing their crimes.

a hardened criminal (= someone who has committed many crimes):

Most of the offenders are not hardened criminals.

•

Collocations:
Adjectives frequently used with criminal
▪  common, habitual, hardened, known, notorious

English dictionary. 2014.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • Criminal — Crim i*nal (kr?m ? nal), a. [L. criminalis, fr. crimen: cf. F. criminel. See {Crime}.] 1. Guilty of crime or sin. [1913 Webster] The neglect of any of the relative duties renders us criminal in the sight of God. Rogers. [1913 Webster] 2.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • criminal — (Del lat. criminālis). 1. adj. Perteneciente o relativo al crimen o que de él toma origen. 2. Dicho de una ley, de un instituto o de una acción: Destinado a perseguir y castigar los crímenes o delitos. 3. Que ha cometido o procurado cometer un… …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • Criminal — Crimināl, adj. et adv. aus dem Lat. criminalis, welches aber nur in einigen Zusammensetzungen üblich ist. Das Criminal Gericht, ein Gericht, welches die Verbrechen der Übelthäter untersucht, im Gegensatze der Civil oder bürgerlichen Gerichte, das …   Grammatisch-kritisches Wörterbuch der Hochdeutschen Mundart

  • criminal — early 15c. (adj.), from M.Fr. criminel (11c.), from L. criminalis pertaining to crime, from crimen (gen. criminis); see CRIME (Cf. crime). Preserves the Latin n . As a noun, from 1620s. Criminal law (or criminal justice) distinguished from civil… …   Etymology dictionary

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  • criminal — [adj] lawless, felonious bent, caught, corrupt, crooked, culpable, deplorable, dirty, heavy, hung up*, illegal, illegitimate, illicit, immoral, indictable, iniquitous, nefarious, off base*, out of line*, peccant, racket, scandalous, senseless,… …   New thesaurus

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