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culprit

noun
cul·​prit | \ ˈkÉ™l-prÉ™t How to pronounce culprit (audio) , -ËŒprit\

Definition of culprit

1 : one accused of or charged with a crime The culprit pleaded "not guilty."
2 : one guilty of a crime or a fault The culprit expressed remorse at his sentencing.
3 : the source or cause of a problem Lack of exercise and poor diet are the main culprits in heart disease.
Synonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about culprit

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Did You Know?

We would be culpable if we didn't clearly explain the origins behind culprit. Yes, it is related to culpable, which itself derives from Latin culpare, meaning "to blame," via Middle English and Anglo-French. But the etymology of culprit is not so straightforward. In Anglo-French, culpable meant "guilty," and this was abbreviated "cul." in legal briefs and texts. Culprit was formed by combining this abbreviation with prest, prit, meaning "ready"-that is, ready to prove an accusation. Literally, then, a culprit was one who was ready to be proven guilty. English then borrowed the word for one accused of a wrongdoing.

Examples of culprit in a Sentence

The police eventually located the culprits. the police caught the culprit a mere two blocks from the scene of the crime

Recent Examples on the Web

 In Utah, officials said marijuana oil was a likely culprit in most cases of lung illnesses in teens. — Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, "Critics: CDC silent on vaping THC as injuries mount," 28 Aug. 2019 But fading winters and very warm water offshore are the most likely culprits, experts say. — Anchorage Daily News, "Extreme climate change has arrived in America. Here are the fastest-warming places.," 13 Aug. 2019 The most likely culprit for accelerating PG 1610, some researchers say, is an intermediate-mass black hole (alternatively, others suggest an extremely massive star could possibly do the job). — Nola Taylor Redd, Scientific American, "Midsize Black Holes May Explain the Milky Way’s Speediest Stars," 7 Aug. 2019 Bad blood or bad politics between Doctor Jay and a top administrator was the likely culprit. — Jennifer Edwards Baker, Cincinnati.com, "World-renowned surgeon sues UC, alleges retaliation, sex & military discrimination," 2 Aug. 2019 Volcanic fury However, other scientists maintain that the evidence for a massive meteor impact event is inconclusive, and that the more likely culprit may be Earth itself. — Victoria Jaggard, National Geographic, "Why did the dinosaurs go extinct?," 31 July 2019 But Tim Jackson, the association’s president, said elevated vehicle prices are a more likely culprit. — Aldo Svaldi, The Denver Post, "New auto registrations down 3.3 percent in Colorado," 30 July 2019 However, a second look, with the help of drones, helped build evidence that has pointed to a likely culprit — a 550-pound dud of a bomb dropped decades ago that remained buried and untouched until its detonation mechanism eroded with time. — Alex Horton, Washington Post, "A mysterious explosion left a crater in a German field. It may have been a WWII bomb.," 25 June 2019 However, a second look, with the help of drones, helped build evidence that has pointed to a likely culprit – a 550-pound dud of a bomb dropped decades ago that remained buried and untouched until its detonation mechanism eroded with time. — The Washington Post, The Mercury News, "Massive blast leaves crater in German barley field," 25 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'culprit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of culprit

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for culprit

Anglo-French cul. (abbreviation of culpable guilty) + prest, prit ready (i.e., to prove it), from Latin praestus — more at presto

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More Definitions for culprit

culprit

noun
How to pronounce culprit (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of culprit

: a person who has committed a crime or done something wrong

See the full definition for culprit in the English Language Learners Dictionary

culprit

noun
cul·​prit | \ ˈkÉ™l-prÉ™t How to pronounce culprit (audio) \

Kids Definition of culprit

: a person accused of, charged with, or guilty of a crime or fault

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More from Merriam-Webster on culprit

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with culprit

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for culprit

Spanish Central: Translation of culprit

Nglish: Translation of culprit for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of culprit for Arabic Speakers

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