culprit

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

ruСуществительное, обозначающее лицо или предмет, ответственное за преступление, правонарушение или проблему.esSustantivo que designa a la persona o cosa responsable de un delito, falta o problema; también se aplica a quien comete una acción censurable o dañina.frNom désignant une personne ou une chose responsable d'un crime, d'une infraction ou d'un problème.deSubstantiv, das eine Person oder Sache bezeichnet, die für ein Vergehen, eine Straftat oder ein Problem verantwortlich ist.ptSubstantivo que designa a pessoa ou coisa responsável por um crime, uma infração ou um problema.zh名词，指应对犯罪、违法行为或问题负责的人或事物。arاسم يُطلق على الشخص أو الجهة المسؤولة عن جريمة أو مخالفة أو مشكلة.

1. Person responsible for a crime B2 formal

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

   • 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.

   ruВиновникesPersona responsable de un delitofrPersonne responsable d'un délitdeSchuldigerptCulpadozh罪犯arالمذنب

   Synonyms: criminalfelonlawbreakermiscreantoffenderperpetratorwrongdoer

   Antonyms: innocentvictim

2. Cause of a problem B2 informal

   The reason or source of a problem or difficulty.

   • 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.

   ruПричина проблемыesCausa de un problemafrCause d'un problèmedeUrsache eines ProblemsptCausa do problemazh问题的根源arسبب المشكلة

   Synonyms: causeoriginreasonrootsource

• culprits plural form
• culprits' possessive plural form
• culprit's possessive singular form