noun

perp

purp

Perp (noun) means informal short form of "perpetrator" — the person who committed a crime. Example: “Police released a sketch of the perp seen leaving the bank.”

noun

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."

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 notes

In 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.

Rhymes for perp

twerp

See all rhymes for perp →

Frequently asked questions

What does “perp” mean?

The word “perp” means informal short form of "perpetrator" — the person who committed a crime. In plain terms, slang shorthand — usually the culprit in a crime, but in trading it can also mean a perpetual bond.

How do you pronounce “perp”?

“Perp” is pronounced purp (/pɝp/ in IPA).

How do you use “perp” in a sentence?

Here is “perp” used in a sentence: “Police released a sketch of the perp seen leaving the bank.”

What part of speech is “perp”?

“Perp” is a noun.

How many meanings does “perp” have?

“Perp” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal short form of "perpetrator" — the person who committed a crime.