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Synonyms

accomplice

American  
[uh-kom-plis] / əˈkɒm plɪs /

noun

  1. a person who knowingly helps another in a crime or wrongdoing, often as a subordinate.

accomplice British  
/ əˈkʌm-, əˈkɒmplɪs /

noun

  1. a person who helps another in committing a crime

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of accomplice

First recorded in 1475–85; a(c) of uncertain origin + late Middle English complice, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin complici- (stem of complex ) “partner”; complex

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.

The letter said applicants could cheat in a variety of ways, including using impersonators, working with an accomplice via screen–sharing or earpieces, or getting help from AI chatbots.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

This law encompasses everyone involved in that felony, holding them equally responsible under a doctrine called accomplice liability.

From Slate • Mar. 6, 2026

At first, Zamora was helped by an accomplice, a technician for Portugal’s national flag carrier TAP—the company that would ultimately uncover the scam.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

With the revelation of Casey Wasserman’s salacious correspondence and interaction with convicted Epstein confidant and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, he has absolutely NO business leading the 2028 Olympics.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2026

He could not understand why he was being interrogated as an accomplice.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden

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.