perpetrator

/ˈpɝpəˌtɹeɪtɝ/ noun

**Perpetrator** is a person who carries out a harmful or illegal act. The term typically appears in news reports and police statements when describing the individual responsible for a crime. The word works for any scale of misdeed, from petty theft to major felonies, and it can be applied to both individuals and organized groups. In legal language it marks the primary actor, distinguishing them from accomplices or accessories. Writers also enjoy using it in a tongue‑in‑cheek way to label anyone who has caused trouble, even if the offense is as harmless as a prank.

【核心含义】指实施有害或非法行为的人,通常用于犯罪场景中描述作案者。

多用于新闻报道或法律文书,可指个人或团体;注意与"accomplice"(共犯)区分,特指主要行为人。日常幽默语境中也可调侃恶作剧者。

【Significado central】Persona que lleva a cabo un acto dañino o ilegal, especialmente un delito.

Se emplea sobre todo en noticias, reportajes y comunicados policiacos para referirse a quien ejecuta un crimen (el autor del robo, los responsables del ataque). En lenguaje jurídico distingue al actor principal de los cómplices o encubridores. Funciona para delitos de cualquier gravedad, desde robos menores hasta crímenes graves. De manera coloquial y con tono irónico, puede aplicarse a quien causa un problema sin importancia: "¿Quién fue el perpetrador de esta mancha en la alfombra?" En español latinoamericano es más frecuente decir "el autor del delito" o "el responsable" que "perpetrador", aunque este último se entiende sin problema en contextos formales.

Word Origin Perpetrate comes from Latin perpetrare 'to accomplish, perform', from per- 'thoroughly' and patrare 'to bring about' (from pater 'father', originally meaning to act as a father, to bring forth). So a perpetrator is one who thoroughly carries out an act, usually a crime. The pater root gives us father, paternal, and patriarch, so perpetrator literally means 'thorough accomplisher'.

noun One who perpetrates; especially, one who commits an offence or crime. countable

The police are still searching for the perpetrator of the robbery.

(名词) 犯罪者;作案者; perpetrator;施害者;加害人

警方仍在搜寻抢劫案的 perpetrator。

(sustantivo) perpetrador; autor; responsable; culpable [Quien perpetra; especialmente, quien comete un delito o crimen.]

La policía aún busca al autor del robo.

(nom) auteur; coupable; malfaiteur [Personne qui commet une infraction ou un crime ; auteur d'une mauvaise action.]

La police recherche toujours l'auteur du vol.

(Substantiv) Täter; Übeltäter; Straftäter [Eine Person, die eine Straftat, ein Vergehen oder eine unerlaubte Handlung begangen hat.]

Die Polizei sucht noch immer nach dem **perpetrator** des Raubüberfalls.

(名詞) 罪や違反行為を行う者。犯人。

警察は依然として強盗の犯人を捜索している。

(substantivo) autor; criminoso; infrator [Aquele que pratica; especialmente, aquele que comete uma ofensa ou crime.]

A polícia ainda procura pelo autor do roubo.

Word parts: per + petr + at + or

Common collocations

of prep be verb to prep crime subst victim subst bring verb against prep as prep with prep by prep alleged adj justice subst

Related words

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