guilt

[ gilt ]

noun

1. the fact or state of having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, especially against moral or penal law; culpability:

   He admitted his guilt.

   Antonyms: innocence

2. a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined.
3. conduct involving the commission of such crimes, wrongs, etc.:

   to live a life of guilt.

   Synonyms: criminality

verb (used with object)

, Informal.

1. to cause to feel guilty (often followed by out or into ): guilt-trip.

   She totally guilted me out, dude. He guilted me into picking up the tab.

guilt

/ ɡɪlt /

noun

1. the fact or state of having done wrong or committed an offence
2. responsibility for a criminal or moral offence deserving punishment or a penalty
3. remorse or self-reproach caused by feeling that one is responsible for a wrong or offence
4. archaic.
   sin or crime

Other Words From

• non·guilt noun
• pre·guilt noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of guilt¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English gilt, Old English gylt “offense”

Word History and Origins

Origin of guilt¹

Old English gylt, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

Morris, who is Black, called claims of racism preposterous and said it was a campaign of guilt by association.

From Salon

She believes the FSB subsequently added to the transcript a confession of guilt that Arseny never made.

From BBC

“His critics continue to engage in guilt by association for comments that were not his,” De León’s attorney said in a lawsuit targeting two people whom De León suspected of making the recording.

From Los Angeles Times

Speaking to BBC Sport in October, promoter Hearn said Benn had been "penalised by his resistance to accept guilt" and that his fighter would be fighting in the UK sooner had he taken a ban handed to him following the failed test.

From BBC

Had he accepted guilt and a subsequent ban in the UK, however, it is unlikely American athletic commissions – who tend to side with sanctions handed to fighters by their international counterparts – would have allowed Benn to compete in the country.

From BBC

Related Words

• culpability
• disgrace
• indiscretion
• liability
• regret
• remorse
• responsibility
• shame
• sin
• stigma