perp

¹ American

[purp] / pɜrp /

noun

Police Slang.

the perpetrator of a crime.

perp. ² American

abbreviation

perpendicular.

perp British

/ pɜːp /

noun

informal a person who has committed 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 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.

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

During a perp walk, law enforcement publicly escort a person accused of a crime as they are transported outside a police station or courthouse, usually in view of media cameras.

From BBC • Oct. 4, 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

Hey, all due respect, we think the opportunity to set the record straight on your perp lineup is an offer no mug could refuse.

From Washington Post • Apr. 6, 2023

Next time you identify the perp in a police lineup, feel free to point dramatically and say, “That’s him, Officer!”

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023