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

Officials have yet to announce the charges that Rodriguez and her alleged accomplices will face. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024

The volunteer accomplices included Bugsy Siegel’s publicist, mobster Meyer Lansky, Pee-wee Herman’s dad Milton Rubenfeld, and Frank Sinatra. Many of the rifles and other arms came from Czechoslovakia, and were used by the Nazis. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024

The food cart vendor tried to push him away, but Butler began pounding on him as his two accomplices, Kymani Santiago and Jeremiah Dilworth, both 19, joined in, according to prosecutors. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 6 Nov. 2024

According to Surrey Police, the pair grabbed valuables before fleeing the scene in a white getaway car driven by a third accomplice. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024

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