guilt

American  

[gilt] / gɪlt /

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

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verb (used with object)

Informal.

1. to cause to feel guilty (often followed by out orinto ).

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

guilt British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• nonguilt noun
• preguilt noun

Etymology

Origin of guilt

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

Example Sentences

Leckie denied his guilt throughout the trial, but his defence of consent was rejected by jurors.

From BBC

The guilt creeps into both children at all hours of the day.

From Los Angeles Times

They're usually aimed at first-time offenders but guidelines state there must be a clear admission of guilt and they must have the victim's agreement.

From BBC

Meanwhile Amanda Gardener, 52, described her feelings of "guilt" after the attack.

From BBC

Dostoyevsky argued that people frequently desire to surrender their freedom to avoid guilt and regret; they will readily do so provided they are assured that they are really gaining a “higher” freedom.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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