Guilty: meaning, definitions and examples

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guilty

 

[ ˈɡɪl.ti ]

Adjective / Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adjective

legal system

responsible for committing a crime or offense; deserving of blame or punishment

Synonyms

blameworthy, culpable, responsible

Examples of usage

  • The jury found the defendant guilty of murder.
  • She felt guilty for not telling the truth.
  • He pleaded guilty to the charges against him.
Context #2 | Adjective

feeling

feeling remorse or self-reproach for a perceived wrongdoing

Synonyms

ashamed, penitent, remorseful

Examples of usage

  • She had a guilty conscience about not helping her friend.
  • The child looked guilty after breaking the vase.
Context #3 | Noun

law

a person who has been found guilty of a crime and is serving a sentence

Synonyms

convict, offender, perpetrator

Examples of usage

  • The prison housed both innocent people and guilty ones.
  • The guilty were brought to justice.

Translations

Translations of the word "guilty" in other languages:

🇵🇹 culpado

🇮🇳 दोषी (doshī)

🇩🇪 schuldig

🇮🇩 bersalah

🇺🇦 винний

🇵🇱 winny

🇯🇵 有罪 (yūzai)

🇫🇷 coupable

🇪🇸 culpable

🇹🇷 suçlu

🇰🇷 유죄의 (yuje-ui)

🇸🇦 مذنب (muthnib)

🇨🇿 vinen

🇸🇰 vinný

🇨🇳 有罪的 (yǒuzuì de)

🇸🇮 kriv

🇮🇸 sekur

🇰🇿 кінәлі (kinalı)

🇬🇪 დამნაშავე (damnashave)

🇦🇿 günahkar

🇲🇽 culpable

Etymology

The word 'guilty' originated from Middle English, from Old French 'guiltif' and 'gultif', both from 'guilt' meaning 'error, sin'. The concept of guilt has been intertwined with human society's notions of right and wrong, justice and morality. In legal contexts, being found guilty of a crime carries serious consequences, while in personal contexts, feeling guilty can lead to self-reflection and growth.

See also: guilt, guiltily, guiltless, guiltlessly, guiltlessness.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,280, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.