Etymology: "Criminal"

What Does the Word “Criminal” Mean?

The word criminal refers to a person guilty of a crime — someone who has committed an act that violates established laws. It functions both as a noun and an adjective, describing not only individuals but also actions, intentions, or systems linked to wrongdoing. However, the meaning of criminal goes beyond legal definition; it reflects a moral judgement that society places upon certain behaviours, shaping how justice, guilt, and punishment are understood.

From Latin Accusations to English Law

The term criminal finds its earliest roots in the Latin crimen, derived from the stem crimin- — meaning “accusation,” “charge,” or “crime.” It evolved into the Late Latin criminalis, meaning “pertaining to crime,” and then transitioned into Old French as criminel, referring to both “criminal” and “culprit.” When it entered the English language in the Late Middle English period, it carried dual use — as a noun for a lawbreaker and as an adjective describing anything relating to crime. This linguistic journey reflects the evolution of law itself, from moral accusations in ancient societies to formalised systems of justice in modern governance.

The Evolution of Meaning Over Time

In early societies, the idea of a criminal was deeply intertwined with religion and morality — wrongdoing was seen as sin against divine order rather than against legal codes. As civil law developed, particularly under Roman influence, crimen became a formal accusation judged within a legal framework. By the time the term reached English courts, its usage had expanded to encompass both moral and legal violations. This historical shift shows how language mirrors social structures: as justice became institutionalised, so did the vocabulary surrounding it.

The Power of Language in Justice

The etymology of criminal reveals not just the history of a word, but the transformation of human thinking about guilt, responsibility, and morality. In modern criminology and psychology, the term carries weight far beyond its dictionary definition — it shapes identity, stigma, and even legal outcomes. Understanding where criminal comes from reminds us that language is not neutral; it evolves with the culture, justice systems, and moral codes that define what it means to do wrong — and to be judged for it.