Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

culprit

/ˈkʌlpɹɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.40 in modern English

Syllables: cul-prit
IPA: /ˈkʌlpɹɪt/

11

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The person or thing at fault for a problem or crime.

noun

A prisoner accused but not yet tried.

British usage

Example Sentences

"I have tightened the loose bolt that was the culprit; it should work now."
"Another sits beneath the purple canopy—a lady, but alone. The diadem is on her cold and haughty brow; there is no pity in her stern aspect, and the smile on her lip bodes death. Before her stands the lovely culprit, whose fatal beauty, and still more fatal love, are about to be dearly requited."
"Railway police are making a full investigation into the matter, and the headmasters of schools have been approached, but it is difficult in such cases to discover the culprits, unless they are caught red-handed."
"But the Dutch dominated only to waste numerous efforts, with Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie the main culprits."

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman cul. prit, contraction of culpable: prest (d'averrer nostre bille) 'guilty: ready (to prove our case)', words used by prosecutor in opening a trial, mistaken in English for an address to the defendant. See culpable. It may have been influenced by Latin culpa (“blame, fault”).

Word Breakdown

Root: -

Usage

British usage

Inflected Forms

culprits (plural)

Derived Forms

nonculprit

Phrases

mea culpa

Frequently Paired Words

culpable culpate disculp disculpate exculpate inculpate mea culpa

Synonyms

perpetrator

Questions

How do you pronounce culprit?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkʌlpɹɪt/.
What does culprit mean?: The person or thing at fault for a problem or crime.
Where does culprit come from?: From Anglo-Norman cul. prit, contraction of culpable: prest (d'averrer nostre bille) 'guilty: ready (to prove our case)', words used by prosecutor in opening a trial, mistaken in English for an address to the defendant. See culpable. It may have been influenced by Latin culpa (“blame, fault”).

How to pronounce culprit

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “culprit”.
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