criminal Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
    malefactor; crook; outlaw; felon.
  2. adjective satellite bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
    condemnable; deplorable; vicious; reprehensible.
    • a criminal waste of talent
    • a deplorable act of violence
    • adultery is as reprehensible for a husband as for a wife
  3. adjective satellite guilty of crime or serious offense
    • criminal in the sight of God and man
  4. adjective satellite involving or being or having the nature of a crime
    felonious.
    • a criminal offense
    • criminal abuse
    • felonious intent

WordNet

Crim"i*nal adjective
Etymology
L. criminalis, fr. crimen: cf. F. criminel. See Crime.
Definitions
  1. Guilty of crime or sin.
    The neglect of any of the relative duties renders us criminal in the sight of God. Rogers.
  2. Involving a crime; of the nature of a crime; -- said of an act or of conduct; as, criminal carelessness.
    Foppish and fantastic ornaments are only indications of vice, not criminal in themselves. Addison.
  3. Relating to crime; -- opposed to civil; as, the criminal code.
    The officers and servants of the crown, violating the personal liberty, or other right of the subject . . . were in some cases liable to criminal process. Hallam.
Crim"i*nal noun
Definitions
  1. One who has commited a crime; especially, one who is found guilty by verdict, confession, or proof; a malefactor; a felon.

Webster 1913