What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
criminal
Example
The police arrested the criminal for stealing the car. [criminal: noun]
Example
He was charged with criminal activity and sentenced to prison. [criminal: adjective]
culprit
Example
The police identified the culprit who broke into the store. [culprit: noun]
Example
The culprit for the traffic jam was the accident on the highway. [culprit: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Criminal is more commonly used than culprit in everyday language, as it is a more versatile term that covers a wide range of illegal activities and behaviors.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between criminal and culprit?
Culprit is more formal than criminal and is often used in legal or official contexts, while criminal can be used in both formal and informal situations.
