Dictionary
guilty
adjective \ˈgil-tē\
: responsible for committing a crime or doing something bad or wrong
: showing that you know you have done something bad or wrong
: feeling bad because you have done something bad or wrong or because you believe you have done something bad or wrong
guilt·i·erguilt·i·est
Full Definition of GUILTY
1
: justly chargeable with or responsible for a usually grave breach of conduct or a crime
2
obsolete : justly liable to or deserving of a penalty
3
a : suggesting or involving guilt b : aware of or suffering from guilt <guilty consciences>
— guilt·i·ly \-tə-lē\ adverb
— guilt·i·ness \-tē-nəs\ noun
See guilty defined for English-language learners
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First Known Use of GUILTY
before 12th century
Related to GUILTY
- Synonyms
- ashamed, shamed, shamefaced
Synonym Discussion of GUILTY
blameworthy, blamable, guilty, culpable mean deserving reproach or punishment. blameworthy and blamable apply to any degree of reprehensibility <conduct adjudged blameworthy> <an accident for which no one is blamable>. guilty implies responsibility for or consciousness of crime, sin, or, at the least, grave error or misdoing <guilty of a breach of etiquette>. culpable is weaker than guilty and is likely to connote malfeasance or errors of ignorance, omission, or negligence <culpable neglect>.
Other Legal Terms
GUILTY Defined for Kids
guilty
adjective \ˈgil-tē\
guilt·i·erguilt·i·est
Definition of GUILTY for Kids
1
: responsible for having done wrong
2
: suffering from or showing bad feelings about having done wrong <I feel guilty about lying.>
— guilt·i·ly \-tə-lē\ adverb
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