complicit

IPA/kəmˈplɪsɪt/
KK[kəmplˈɪsət]IPA/kəmˈplɪsɪt/

complicit — adjective

  • complicitpositive
  • more complicitcomparative
  • most complicitsuperlative

1. describes a person who shares responsibility for a dishonest or unlawful action,

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a person who shares responsibility for a dishonest or unlawful action, either by taking part directly or by knowing about it and choosing not to act.

Example

The accountant became complicit in the fraud by signing the false documents.

complicit in + [wrongdoing]

By staying silent about the bullying, the teacher was seen as complicit.

passive: be seen as complicit

Common collocations
  • complicit in a crime
  • complicit in a scandal
  • complicit in a cover-up
  • complicit in the fraud
  • complicit with the authorities
  • become complicit
  • feel complicit
  • remain complicit
Synonyms
  • involved

    broader and less morally charged; can apply to any participation, not just wrongdoing

  • implicated

    suggests evidence or circumstances connect someone to wrongdoing, possibly unwillingly

  • culpable

    focuses on blameworthiness and fault rather than active participation

  • accomplice

    noun form — a person who actively helps commit a crime; stronger sense of direct involvement

Antonyms
  • innocent

    not guilty of or involved in wrongdoing

  • uninvolved

    not taking part in the activity at all

Grammar Patterns

be complicit in + [wrongdoing]

become complicit in + [wrongdoing]

feel complicit + when/if-clause

Usage Note

Frequently used in political, legal, or ethical contexts. Common with the preposition 'in' (complicit in a crime/scandal/cover-up); also used with 'with' to name the person (complicit with the authorities).

Common Mistakes

He is complicit on the crime.
He is complicit in the crime.
The correct preposition is 'in', not 'on' or 'with' when referring to the wrongdoing itself.
She was a complicit of the robbery.
She was complicit in the robbery.
'Complicit' is an adjective, not a noun. Use 'accomplice' for the noun form.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These words all relate to participation in wrongdoing, but they differ in strength and grammatical role. 'Complicit' (adjective) focuses on shared responsibility — you know about the wrongdoing and either take part or stay silent. 'Implicated' (adjective) suggests you are connected to the wrongdoing by evidence or circumstance, possibly against your will ('Several officials were implicated in the bribery scheme'). 'Culpable' (adjective) emphasizes blameworthiness rather than participation; you can be culpable for failing to stop something. 'Involved' (adjective) is the broadest and least judgmental — it can cover any level of participation. 'Accomplice' (noun) is the only noun in this group and refers to a person who actively helps commit a crime. Example: 'The driver was complicit because he knew the cargo was stolen. The warehouse owner was also implicated by the shipping records. Both were considered culpable, but only the loader who helped carry the boxes was charged as an accomplice.'

complicit ↗implicated ↗culpable ↗involved ↗accomplice ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • complicit in a crime
  • complicit in a scandal
  • complicit in a cover-up
  • complicit in fraud
  • complicit in the abuse

Adverbs

  • knowingly complicit
  • actively complicit
  • deeply complicit
  • willfully complicit
  • morally complicit

Phrases

  • become complicit in
  • be complicit in
  • feel complicit
  • remain complicit in
  • make someone complicit in

Prepositions

  • complicit in
  • complicit with

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'complicit' is a back-formation from 'complicity' (the state of being an accomplice). Both come from French 'complicité', which traces back to Latin 'complex' meaning 'involved, entangled' — itself from 'com-' (together) and 'plicare' (to fold). The idea is of being 'folded together' with someone in a shared action. The word entered English in the mid-1800s, significantly later than the related noun 'accomplice' (late 1400s).