English Explanatory Dictionary

guilty

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Responsible for a dishonest act.
  2. Judged to have committed a crime.
  3. Having a sense of guilt.
  4. Blameworthy.
noun
  1. A plea by a defendant who does not contest a charge.
  2. A verdict of a judge or jury on a defendant judged to have committed a crime.
  3. One who is declared guilty of a crime.

Pronunciation

/ˈɡɪl.ti/ en-us-guilty.ogg

Word forms

guilty guiltier more guilty guiltiest most guilty guilties

Etymology

From Middle English gilty, gulty, from Old English gyltiġ (“offending, guilty”); equivalent to guilt + -y.

Synonyms

shildy at fault blameworthy censurable culpable guilty nocent reprehensible to blame blameless praiseworthy

Antonyms

innocent praiseworthy not guilty blameless clean clean-handed clean as a hound's tooth clean as a whistle clear dovelike guiltless innocent as the babe unborn innocent as the child unborn irreprehensible nonblameworthy offenseless pure righteous sackless sinless unblameable unblameworthy uncalculating unguilty

Related words

unguilty peccable weighed in the balance

Derived words

beguilty bloodguilty guiltily guiltiness guilty as a cat in a goldfish bowl guilty as charged guilty as sin guilty conscience guiltylike guilty pleasure inguilty nonguilty unguilty
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