perpetrator
gb/pˈɚpətɹˌeɪtɚ/ us/pˈɚpətɹˌeɪtɚ/
B2
English
~ 9600
elkövető, tettes
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
the perpetrator of [a crime]
Police are still searching for the perpetrator of last night's shooting.
A rendőrség még mindig keresi a tegnap esti lövöldözés elkövetőjét.
The judge said the perpetrator showed no remorse for his actions.
A bíró szerint az elkövető semmiféle megbánást nem mutatott a tettei miatt.
Security cameras helped investigators identify the perpetrator within hours.
The company promised to cooperate fully to ensure the perpetrator of the fraud is found.
Counselors were brought in to support the victims while authorities pursued the perpetrator.
Learner examples
The police caught the perpetrator of the robbery.
A rendőrség elfogta a rablás elkövetőjét.
The school wants to find the perpetrator of the online bullying.
Az iskola meg akarja találni az online zaklatás elkövetőjét.
The news report said the perpetrator escaped in a black car.
The victim was afraid the perpetrator might come back.
The city asked the public for help to identify the perpetrator.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "perpetrator" with "victim". Remember: the perpetrator does the crime; the victim suffers from it. Another mistake is overusing it for small, everyday actions; it is usually used for serious wrongdoing like crimes, attacks, or serious abuse, not for minor mistakes.
Meaning
person who commits a crime
Collocations
the alleged perpetrator
|the perpetrator of the crime
|the perpetrator of the attack
|identify the perpetrator
|track down the perpetrator
|bring the perpetrator to justice
Synonyms
culprit (Common in everyday speech; slightly less formal and can also mean the cause of a problem, not only a person.)
|
offender (More legal or official; often used for someone who has broken a law, sometimes in general rather than for a single act.)
|
wrongdoer (More general and slightly formal; can refer to any person who does something morally or legally wrong.)
Antonyms
victim (The person who suffers from the crime or harmful act, not the one who carries it out.)
|
innocent (Describes a person who did not commit the crime or wrong act and is free from guilt.)
Themes
law
|crime
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A person who does a crime, attack, or other bad and harmful act.
A person who carries out a crime, attack, or other harmful or morally wrong act.
Grammar
Dictionary form
perpetrator
IPA
GB/pˈɚpətɹˌeɪtɚ/
US/pˈɚpətɹˌeɪtɚ/
Syllables & stress
per - pet - rat - or (4 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (per)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: perpetrator
- Plural: perpetrators
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.