Legal Definitions - culprit

Definition: A culprit is a person who is accused or charged with committing a crime and is found guilty of it.

For example, if someone is caught stealing from a store and is arrested, they would be considered the culprit of the crime. Another example would be if someone is accused of murder and is found guilty in court, they would be considered the culprit of the crime.

The term "culprit" comes from the Latin word "culpabilis," which means "guilty," and the Old French word "prest," which means "ready." In the past, these two words were used together to plead guilty at the beginning of a criminal case.

The examples illustrate the definition of a culprit by showing how a person who is accused and found guilty of a crime is considered the culprit. It is important to note that being accused of a crime does not necessarily mean that a person is guilty, and they are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.