How do you pronounce criminal?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkɹɪm.ɪ.nəl/.

Where does criminal come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

criminal

/ˈkɹɪm.ɪ.nəl/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.75 in modern English

Syllables: crim-i-nal
IPA: /ˈkɹɪm.ɪ.nəl/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Against the law; forbidden by law.

adj

Guilty of breaking the law.

adj

Of or relating to crime or penal law.

adj

Abhorrent or very undesirable.

noun

A person who is guilty of a crime, notably breaking the law.

Example Sentences

"Foppish and fantastic ornaments are only indications of vice, not criminal in themselves."
"The neglect of any of the relative duties renders us criminal in the sight of God."
"His long criminal record suggests that he is a dangerous man."
"The officers and servants of the crown, violating the personal liberty, or other right of the subject […] in some cases, were liable to criminal process."
"Printing such asinine opinions is criminal!"
"[...] I think it represents exceptional value for money and I think it would be criminal not to go ahead and build it.""

Etymology

From Middle English cryminal, borrowed from Anglo-Norman criminal, from Late Latin criminalis, from Latin crimen (“crime”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: *krey-, cryminal, criminal, criminalis, crimen

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈkɹɪm.ɪ.nəl/
British English: /ˈkɹɪm.ɪ.nəl/

Inflected Forms

more criminal (comparative) most criminal (superlative) criminals (plural)

Derived Forms

anticriminal archcriminal criminaldom criminalese criminaless criminalisation criminalise criminalish criminalism criminalist criminalistic criminalistics

Phrases

age of criminal responsibility certificate of no criminal conviction criminal code criminal conversation criminal law criminal lawyer criminal negligence criminal offence

Frequently Paired Words

absconder con convict fugitive prisoner villain troublemaker jerk

Synonyms

crimeful delictuous illegal illicit criminal illegitimate lawbreaking nonlawful outlawed unlawful wrongful at fault