perpetrate

[ pur-pi-treyt ]

verb (used with object)

, per·pe·trat·ed, per·pe·trat·ing.

1. to commit:

   to perpetrate a crime.

2. to present, execute, or do in a poor or tasteless manner:

   Who perpetrated this so-called comedy?

perpetrate

/ ˈpɜːpɪˌtreɪt /

verb

1. tr to perform or be responsible for (a deception, crime, etc)

Usage

Perpetrate and perpetuate are sometimes confused: he must answer for the crimes he has perpetrated (not perpetuated ); the book helped to perpetuate (not perpetrate ) some of the myths surrounding his early life

Derived Forms

• ˌperpeˈtration, noun
• ˈperpeˌtrator, noun

Other Words From

• per·pe·tra·ble [pur, -pi-tr, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• per·pe·tra·tion [pur-pi-, trey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• per·pe·tra·tor noun
• non·per·pe·tra·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of perpetrate¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin perpetrātus (past participle of perpetrāre “to carry out, execute, perform”), equivalent to per- per- + -petr- (combining form of patrāre “to father, bring abou”t; pater ) + -ā- thematic vowel + -tus past participle suffix; -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of perpetrate¹

C16: from Latin perpetrāre, from per- (thoroughly) + patrāre to perform, perhaps from pater father, leader in the performance of sacred rites

Example Sentences

Bush and his advisers were mortified that they had allowed this uniquely horrific attack on American soil, and their focus was on punishing those who had perpetrated it, as well as those who sheltered them.

From Washington Post

The corruption and fraud that is being perpetrated by our government is absurd.

From Time

Without fully understanding what steps were taken, if any, to investigate these alleged crimes, there is no assurance that the individuals who may have perpetrated these crimes have been apprehended.

From Washington Post

In a New York Times Magazine article last year, Francesca Mari documented the egregious harms perpetrated by these landlords on struggling Americans.

From Vox

That decade saw some of the worst state-sanctioned racial violence perpetrated along the border.

From Washington Post

As in Nazi Germany, it is usually governments driven by greed or power calculations that perpetrate such crimes.

From The Daily Beast

If the auctioneer could afterward do this he might change the name, substitute another, and so perpetrate a fraud.

From Project Gutenberg

The evils forbidden therein none should perpetrate, either on others or on himself.

From Project Gutenberg

It is notorious that a mob will commit atrocities which a single individual could scarcely be tempted to perpetrate.

From Project Gutenberg

Occasionally they are joined by Indians, and these latter are always conspicuous for the cruelties they perpetrate.

From Project Gutenberg

But surely Christianity should not be condemned for what it forbids men to perpetrate under pain of the Divine displeasure.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• carry out
• commit
• execute
• inflict
• wreak