culprit

• Substantiv, das eine Person oder Sache bezeichnet, die für ein Vergehen, eine Straftat oder ein Problem verantwortlich ist.

A noun referring to a person or thing responsible for a crime, offense, or problem.

1. Person responsible for a crimeB2formal

   A person who has committed a crime or done something wrong.

   Schuldiger

   • The police arrested the culprit after a brief chase.
   • The culprit confessed to the theft during the interrogation.
   • They searched for the culprit who vandalized the park.

   Synonymecriminalfelonlawbreakermiscreantoffenderperpetratorwrongdoer

   Antonymeinnocentvictim

2. Cause of a problemB2informal

   The reason or source of a problem or difficulty.

   Ursache eines Problems

   • The faulty wiring was the culprit behind the power outage.
   • Stress is often the main culprit for sleep disorders.
   • The culprit for the engine failure was a broken piston.

   Synonymecauseoriginreasonrootsource