Origin: 1350–1400; Middle English <
Anglo-French <
Late Latin crīminālis, equivalent to
Latin crīmin- (stem of
crīmen; see crime) +
-ālis -al1 Related formscrim·i·nal·ly, adverb
non·crim·i·nal, adjective, noun
non·crim·i·nal·ly, adverb
qua·si-crim·i·nal, adjective
qua·si-crim·i·nal·ly, adverb
EXPANDsub·crim·i·nal, adjective
sub·crim·i·nal·ly, adverb
su·per·crim·i·nal, adjective, noun
su·per·crim·i·nal·ly, adverb
un·crim·i·nal, adjective
un·crim·i·nal·ly, adverb
COLLAPSESynonyms 1. felonious, unlawful.
See illegal. 6. malefactor, evildoer, transgressor, culprit, felon, crook, hoodlum, gangster.
Antonyms
1. lawful. 2. innocent.