crim·i·nal
ˈkri-mə-nᵊl 
ˈkrim-nəl
1
: relating to, involving, or being a crime
criminal neglect
a criminal organization
2
: relating to crime or to the prosecution of suspects in a crime
criminal statistics
brought criminal action
the criminal justice system
3
: guilty of crime
also
: of or befitting a criminal
a criminal mind
4
: disgraceful
It's criminal how unfunny this comedy is.—
Rick Bentley
Rick Bentley
criminally
adverb
1
: one who has committed a crime
2
: a person who has been convicted of a crime
Synonyms
Examples of criminal in a Sentence
Adjective
a history of criminal behavior
The captain of the wrecked boat was accused of criminal negligence.
The company brought criminal charges against her.
It's criminal that the government is doing nothing to stop the problem.
Noun
car thieves, pickpockets, burglars, and other criminals
Recent Examples on the Web
Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
European and German authorities also announced an operation involving the FBI and other law enforcement partners that had disrupted over 100 servers associated with the criminal network Berezhnoy and Glebov were a part of, the Department of Justice said.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2025
Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025
Doing so will also mitigate the economic impacts, as criminals do not contribute to the American economy.
—Douglas Schoen, Orange County Register, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for criminal 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Homan provided an update to Fox News on two ongoing probes, including a criminal investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ), which Homan says points to a possible leak within the FBI.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
European and German authorities also announced an operation involving the FBI and other law enforcement partners that had disrupted over 100 servers associated with the criminal network Berezhnoy and Glebov were a part of, the Department of Justice said.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2025
Noun
Many citizens have come to believe that for too long, the rights of criminals have trumped the rights of citizens to be safe and free from violence.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025
Doing so will also mitigate the economic impacts, as criminals do not contribute to the American economy.
—Douglas Schoen, Orange County Register, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for criminal
Dictionary Entries Near criminal
Cite this Entry
“Criminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminal. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
criminal
1 of 2 adjective
crim·i·nal
ˈkrim-ən-ᵊl
ˈkrim-nəl
1
: being or guilty of a crime
a criminal act
2
: relating to crime or its punishment
criminal court
criminality
noun
ˌkrim-ə-ˈnal-ət-ē
criminally
adverb
ˈkrim-ən-ᵊl-ē
-nə-lē
criminal
2 of 2 noun
: a person who has committed a crime
Legal Definition
criminal
1 of 2 adjective
crim·i·nal
ˈkri-mə-nəl
1
: relating to, involving, or being a crime
criminal neglect
criminal conduct
2
: relating to crime or its prosecution
brought a criminal action
criminal code
compare civil sense 4, penal
criminal
2 of 2 noun1
: one who has committed a crime
2
: a person who has been convicted of a crime
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share