culprit
Culprit (noun) means the person or thing responsible for a problem, crime, or wrongdoing. Example: “Police finally identified the culprit behind the break-ins.”
How to use culprit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhoever or whatever is to blame for something going wrong.
Word forms
culprits plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Police finally identified the _____ behind the break-ins.
Etymology
From an Anglo-Norman legal phrase used when opening a trial, roughly "guilty: ready [to prove our case]" — later mistaken as a term addressing the accused directly.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “culprit” mean?
The word “culprit” means the person or thing responsible for a problem, crime, or wrongdoing. In plain terms, whoever or whatever is to blame for something going wrong.
How do you pronounce “culprit”?
“Culprit” is pronounced KUHLP-riht (/ˈkʌlpɹɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “culprit” in a sentence?
Here is “culprit” used in a sentence: “Police finally identified the culprit behind the break-ins.”
What part of speech is “culprit”?
“Culprit” is a noun.
Where does the word “culprit” come from?
The word “culprit” comes from Anglo-Norman. From an Anglo-Norman legal phrase used when opening a trial, roughly "guilty: ready [to prove our case]" — later mistaken as a term addressing the accused directly.
Is “culprit” a common word?
“Culprit” is an uncommon word in modern English.