perpetrate

verb

per·​pe·​trate ˈpər-pə-ˌtrāt How to pronounce perpetrate (audio)
perpetrated; perpetrating

transitive verb

1
: to bring about or carry out (something, such as a crime or deception) : commit
2
: to produce, perform, or execute (something likened to a crime)
perpetrate a pun
perpetration noun
perpetrator noun

Examples of perpetrate in a Sentence

The men were planning to perpetrate a robbery. The attack was perpetrated by a street gang. He vowed revenge for the crime perpetrated on his family.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Last week, following a complaint submitted to Brazilian authorities by the March 30 Movement, a judge issued an order for police to investigate possible crimes perpetrated by an Israeli soldier there on vacation. Annie Hylton, The New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2025 And we're very sharply focused as an agency on dealing with that threat, supporting the FBI in the New Orleans case, where, as the FBI has said publicly, their belief is that the man who perpetrated that horrific act was inspired by ISIS but operated alone. Ashley Brown, NPR, 10 Jan. 2025 Previous allegations Goins had previously been accused in 1999 of medical child abuse perpetrated on her son, according to the warrants in the current case involving her granddaughter. Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Jan. 2025 De Niro plays George Mullen, a former U.S. president in charge of the commission attempting to determine who perpetrated a deadly cyberattack against the United States. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for perpetrate 

Word History

Etymology

Latin perpetratus, past participle of perpetrare, from per- through + patrare to accomplish, from pater father — more at father

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of perpetrate was in 1537

Dictionary Entries Near perpetrate

Cite this Entry

“Perpetrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perpetrate. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

perpetrate

verb
per·​pe·​trate ˈpər-pə-ˌtrāt How to pronounce perpetrate (audio)
perpetrated; perpetrating
: to be guilty of doing : commit
perpetration noun
perpetrator noun

Legal Definition

perpetrate

transitive verb
per·​pe·​trate ˈpər-pə-ˌtrāt How to pronounce perpetrate (audio)
perpetrated; perpetrating
: to carry out or bring about (as a crime)
perpetration noun
perpetrator noun

More from Merriam-Webster on perpetrate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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