criminal
A person who has done something against the law.
A person who has been proven guilty of breaking the law, especially through a court of law.
About crime or people who do crimes.
Involving or connected with illegal acts or people who commit them.
Very bad or unfair (not always against the law).
Used informally to describe something as very wrong, unfair, or morally unacceptable, not necessarily illegal.
- Base: criminal
- Base: criminal
- Plural: criminals
career criminal
1Person committing crimes long-term
A person who keeps doing crimes for many years and makes it their way of living.
- The police identified him as a career criminal with dozens of arrests.
- Career criminals often start at a young age.
criminal justice system
1Law system for crime and punishment
All the laws, courts, and police that deal with crime and punishment.
- The book explains how the criminal justice system works in the United States.
- Many believe the criminal justice system needs reform.
criminal record
1Official history of past crimes
An official list of crimes that someone has done.
- He couldn't get the job because of his criminal record.
- She has no criminal record and a clean background check.
petty criminal
1Person committing minor crimes
A person who does small illegal things like stealing little things or damaging property.
- Petty criminals are often given lighter sentences than violent offenders.
- He started out as a petty criminal before moving on to bigger crimes.