perp
word
/ˈpɝp/
/ˈpɜːp/
Definition
A casual or slang word for 'perpetrator,' meaning a person who did a crime or is suspected of one, often used by police or in crime TV shows.
Usage & Nuances
Very informal and mainly used in police jargon or crime fiction. Rarely heard in everyday speech. Common in phrases like 'the perp' or 'we've got the perp'. Don't use for minor wrongdoing—it's for serious or criminal acts.
Spanish: delincuente - sospechoso (jerga policial)Portuguese (BR): criminoso - suspeito (gíria policial)Portuguese (PT): criminoso - suspeito (gíria policial)Chinese (Simplified): 嫌疑人 (警方俚语) - 罪犯Chinese (Traditional): 嫌疑人 (警方俚語) - 罪犯Hindi: अपराधी (पुलिस की भाषा)Arabic: مجرم (عامية الشرطة)Bengali: অপরাধী (পুলিশি ভাষা)Russian: преступник (полицейский жаргон)Japanese: 犯人 (警察の俗語)Vietnamese: tội phạm (tiếng lóng cảnh sát) - nghi phạmKorean: 범인 (경찰 은어)Turkish: suçlu (polis argosu)Urdu: مجرم (پولیس زبان)Indonesian: penjahat (slang polisi)
Example Sentences
Looks like the perp left his wallet at the scene.
natural
The cops are still searching for the perp.
natural
The detectives think the perp is someone from the neighborhood.
natural
The police caught the perp last night.
basic
The perp wore a black jacket.
basic
Did you see the perp run away?
basic