perp
noun
the perpetrator of a crime.
perp
1 American
[purp]
/ pɜrp /
noun
Police Slang.
perp.
2
American
abbreviation
perp
British
/ pɜːp /
noun
Etymology
Origin of perp
C20: from perpetrate
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The potential for extreme gains—and losses—has made crypto perp trading even more popular than spot trading worldwide.
From Barron's ● May 29, 2026
And don’t forget all those crypto perpetual futures or perp trades with up to 100x leverage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 15, 2026
Several media outlets have reported that FBI leadership had planned a public perp walk for Comey.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2025
Oswald was killed two days later by Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby during a perp walk broadcast on live television.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 18, 2025
“The perp who set this up could be anywhere in the crowd by now. We’ll reroll the security footage, do the facial rec—we’ll have this arrest by the end of the sentencing.”
From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
“The perp. Catching him would kill the story.”
From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
