perpetrator
Meaning: A person who carries out a harmful, illegal, or criminal act, especially in formal or legal contexts.
Perpetrator is the standard formal term for the person who commits a crime or offence. It is ubiquitous in police reports, court proceedings, news journalism, and academic criminology. The word implies that the person is responsible for the act, though it is often modified by 'alleged' before a conviction. It collocates with 'of the attack,' 'of the crime,' and 'of the fraud.'
Examples
- Detectives appealed for witnesses who might be able to identify the perpetrator of the attack. 侦探呼吁目击者协助辨认该袭击事件的犯罪者。Los detectives pidieron a los testigos que pudieran identificar al autor del ataque que se presentasen.刑事たちは、襲撃の実行犯を特定できる可能性のある目撃者に情報提供を呼びかけた。형사들은 습격 사건의 범인을 식별할 수 있을 만한 목격자에게 제보를 호소했다.
- The perpetrators of the financial fraud had operated undetected within the firm for nearly a decade. 该金融欺诈的犯罪者在公司内部潜伏近十年未被发现。Los autores del fraude financiero habían operado sin ser detectados dentro de la empresa durante casi una década.その金融詐欺の実行犯たちは、約10年間にわたり会社内で発覚することなく活動していた。그 금융 사기의 범행자들은 거의 10년간 회사 내에서 발각되지 않고 활동해 왔다.
- Victims' advocates argued that the justice system too often failed to hold perpetrators of domestic abuse to account. 受害者权益倡导者认为,司法制度往往未能追究家庭暴力犯罪者的责任。Los defensores de las víctimas argumentaron que el sistema de justicia con demasiada frecuencia no exigía responsabilidades a los autores de violencia doméstica.被害者支援団体は、司法制度が家庭内暴力の加害者の責任を追及することにあまりにも頻繁に失敗していると主張した。피해자 옹호 단체들은 사법 제도가 가정 폭력 가해자들에게 책임을 묻는 데 너무 자주 실패하고 있다고 주장했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: legal, journalism, academic
Tone: disapproving
Origin & History
From Latin perpetrator, from perpetrare (to carry out, to accomplish), combining per- (through, completely) and patrare (to bring about). Entered English in the 16th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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