culprit
//ˈkʌlprɪt//
Translation
culprit
Definition
A culprit is a person or thing responsible for a crime, offense, or problem. In everyday usage, it often refers to someone who has done something wrong, such as breaking a rule or causing harm, but it can also describe the cause of an issue in a non-legal context, like a faulty part in a machine. The word carries a sense of blame or guilt, and it is commonly used in news reports, detective stories, and casual conversations about finding the source of a problem. For example, when a pipe bursts, the culprit might be old plumbing. This term is typically neutral in tone but implies responsibility for a negative outcome.
Example
“The police arrested the culprit after a brief chase.”
“Who is the culprit behind the missing cookies?”
“The real culprit was a software bug, not human error.”
“After investigating, they found the culprit was a leaky faucet.”
“The culprit confessed to the theft during the interrogation.”
“In the mystery novel, the culprit turned out to be the butler.”
“The main culprit for the traffic jam was a broken-down truck.”
“She was determined to find the culprit who vandalized her garden.”
“The culprit left fingerprints on the window sill.”
“Stress is often the culprit behind many health issues.”
Synonyms