I. ˈkri-mə-n ə l, ˈkrim-nəl adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French criminal, from Late Latin criminalis, from Latin crimin-, crimen crime
Date: 15th century
1. : relating to, involving, or being a crime
criminal neglect
2. : relating to crime or to the prosecution of suspects in a crime
criminal statistics
brought criminal action
3. : guilty of crime ; also : of or befitting a criminal
a criminal mind
4. : disgraceful
• crim·i·nal·ly adverb
II. noun
Date: circa 1626
1. : one who has committed a crime
2. : a person who has been convicted of a crime