Meaning
An accomplice is a person who helps someone else commit a crime or do something wrong. It refers to a partner in crime or someone who plays a supporting role in wrongdoing.
Grammar and Usage
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Part of speech: noun (countable)
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Plural: accomplices
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Common structure:
- be an accomplice to (a crime)
- act as an accomplice in (something illegal)
Used in both legal and everyday contexts to describe someone who assists in wrongdoing.
Common Phrases
- an accomplice to murder – a person who helped commit murder
- a willing accomplice – someone who helps intentionally
- an unwitting accomplice – someone who helps without realizing it
- act as an accomplice – to take part in wrongdoing
Collocations
- accomplice in a crime
- arrest an accomplice
- identify the accomplice
- convict an accomplice
- accomplice to theft/fraud/murder
Examples
- The thief and his accomplice escaped before the police arrived.
- She was accused of being an accomplice to fraud.
- He acted as an accomplice in hiding the stolen goods.
- The police are still searching for the accomplice who drove the getaway car.
- Without realizing it, she became an unwitting accomplice in the scam.
- The court sentenced both the criminal and his accomplice to prison.
- He denied being an accomplice and claimed he didn’t know about the crime.
Synonyms or Related
- partner in crime
- collaborator
- confederate
- co-conspirator
- aider
Antonym
- innocent
- opponent
- bystander
- adversary