noun
perp
purp
noun
1
Informal short form of "perpetrator" — the person who committed a crime.
"Police released a sketch of the perp seen leaving the bank."
"The detective was confident they had the right perp in custody."
2
In finance, a bond or futures contract with no fixed maturity date (short for "perpetual").
"The company issued a perp to raise capital without ever having to repay the principal."
How to Use Perp
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSlang shorthand — usually the culprit in a crime, but in trading it can also mean a perpetual bond.
When to use it
Very informal; mainly heard in police jargon, crime shows, and finance trading floors — not used in formal writing.
Word Forms
perps plural, perps plural
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Police released a sketch of the _____ seen leaving the bank.
Etymology
A clipped form of "perpetrator," first popular in police and crime-show slang.