criminal
/ˈkrɪmɪnl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkrɪmɪnl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkri-mə-nᵊl ˈkrim-nəl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈkrɪm.ɪ.nəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkrɪm.ə.nəl/ (ame, ipa)
criminal — noun
- criminalsingular
- criminalsplural
1. someone who does something that the law forbids, for example stealing, hurting a
someone who does something that the law forbids, for example stealing, hurting another person, or damaging property
The police arrested the criminal outside his apartment building last night.
Kemi was shocked to learn that her neighbour was a convicted criminal.
collocation: convicted criminal
The prison held over five hundred criminals, some serving life sentences.
Cyrus testified against the criminals who had robbed the local bank.
- offender
more formal; often used in legal or official contexts (e.g. a repeat offender)
- lawbreaker
less common; emphasises the act of breaking the law itself
- culprit
focuses on someone responsible for a specific wrongdoing, not necessarily a legal crime
- law-abiding citizen
a person who obeys the law
文法句型
a [adjective] criminal
the criminal who/that …
用法筆記
Often modified by an adjective describing the type or seriousness of the offence — e.g. violent criminal, petty criminal, career criminal.
常見錯誤
criminal — adjective
- criminalpositive
- more criminalcomparative
- most criminalsuperlative
1. connected with the act of breaking the law, the system that deals with lawbreake
connected with the act of breaking the law, the system that deals with lawbreakers, or the people who investigate and punish them
The suspect was taken to court to face criminal charges.
collocation: criminal charges
After finishing school, Yuna decided to study criminal law at the university.
collocation: criminal law
The lawyer asked to see her client's full criminal record before the hearing.
Putri works as a consultant on criminal justice reform in Southeast Asia.
文法句型
criminal + noun (e.g. criminal law, criminal record)
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive position). You cannot say 'His behaviour was criminal' to mean 'related to crime' — that would be sense 2 (morally wrong).
常見錯誤
2. so morally bad, unfair, or shocking that it seems as if the person responsible o
so morally bad, unfair, or shocking that it seems as if the person responsible ought to be punished, even if no actual law has been broken
Tamás thought it was criminal to waste so much food at the party.
pattern: it is criminal to [verb]
The company's decision to ignore safety rules was a criminal waste of money.
collocation: criminal waste
Asher said the amount they charged for a single sandwich was simply criminal.
Min's landlord refused to fix the broken pipes for weeks — the tenants called that absolutely criminal.
- outrageous
more common; focuses on the shock or offence caused
- disgraceful
emphasises loss of respect and public shame
- shameful
softer; focuses on the moral embarrassment of the situation
- admirable
deserving approval and respect
文法句型
it is criminal (that/to …)
[noun] is criminal
用法筆記
Frequently found in exclamatory or emphatic statements. Common in everyday conversation but rarely in formal writing. Do NOT confuse with sense 1 — this sense does not refer to an actual crime.