culprit
The police arrested the culprit within hours of the crime.
The person responsible for the crime was caught quickly.
A person who is responsible for a crime or misdeed.
The detective identified the culprit by analyzing the evidence.
The detective found the person guilty of the crime through evidence.
The company apologized for the error and promised to find the culprit.
The company admitted fault and vowed to locate the person responsible.
Often used in legal or formal contexts to refer to someone accused or proven guilty.
Collocations
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'culpable'
'Culprit' is a noun referring to a person, while 'culpable' is an adjective meaning 'deserving blame'. Example: 'He is culpable for the mistake' (he is deserving of blame), but 'The culprit was arrested' (the guilty person was caught).
Gold Rule
Use 'culprit' for people, not situations
Do not use 'culprit' to refer to non-human causes (e.g., 'The culprit was the storm' is incorrect). Instead, say 'The cause was the storm' or 'The storm was to blame'.
Word Origin
From Latin *culpa* (blame, fault) + *-prit* (possibly from Old French *prendre* 'to take', though the exact origin is debated). The term evolved in Middle English to mean 'one accused of a crime'.
Usage Notes
Primarily used in formal or legal contexts. Avoid using in casual conversation unless mimicking a formal tone.