Guilty: meaning, definitions and examples
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guilty
[ ˈɡɪl.ti ]
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.
feeling
feeling remorse or self-reproach for a perceived wrongdoing
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- She had a guilty conscience about not helping her friend.
- The child looked guilty after breaking the vase.
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
Word origin
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.