accomplice

noun

ac·​com·​plice ə-ˈkäm-pləs  -ˈkəm- 

: one associated with another especially in wrongdoing

was convicted as an accomplice to murder

Synonyms

• abettor
• abetter
• accessory
• accessary
• cohort
• confederate

Examples of accomplice in a Sentence

He was convicted as an accomplice to murder.

the thief and his accomplices were eventually caught and brought to justice

Recent Examples on the Web

Police were investigating whether the suspect had any accomplices. —Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 16 Feb. 2025

His accomplice remains unidentified, officials said. —Mark Price, Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2025

Ubilla-Delgado was arrested on Jan. 29 and his accomplice, Morales, was taken into custody the next day, Jan. 30, police said. —Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 2 Feb. 2025

As much as Louie’s secrets — some revealed by Dylan out of spite and others by his own restless tongue — might paint him as a predator, the would-be victim of his questionable actions might be more of a willing accomplice with their own troubling past and self-serving motivations. —Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Anglo-French acomplice, alteration of complice "associate" — more at complice

Note: The source of initial a(c)- is unclear. The earlier notion that a- represents fusion of the indefinite article cannot be maintained given the much earlier occurrences of the word in Anglo-French (in a 1384 petition of the Drapers guild, and in vol. 2 of the Rotuli Parliamentorum [1279-1377]). The suggestion that complice has been assimilated to accomplir, "to fulfill, etc.," (see accomplish) is not very compelling semantically.

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

accomplice

noun

ac·​com·​plice ə-ˈkäm-pləs  -ˈkəm- 

: someone associated with another in wrongdoing

Legal Definition

accomplice

noun

ac·​com·​plice ə-ˈkäm-pləs, -ˈkəm- 

: one who intentionally and voluntarily participates with another in a crime by encouraging or assisting in the commission of the crime or by failing to prevent it though under a duty to do so

the accomplice of the burglar

an accomplice in a robbery

Etymology

alteration (from incorrect division of a complice) of complice, from Middle French, associate, from Late Latin complic- complex partner, confederate