accomplice

noun

ac·​com·​plice ə-ˈkäm-pləs  -ˈkəm- 

: one associated with another especially in wrongdoing

was convicted as an accomplice to murder

Synonyms

• abettor
• abetter
• accessory
• accessary
• cohort
• confederate

Examples of accomplice in a Sentence

He was convicted as an accomplice to murder.

the thief and his accomplices were eventually caught and brought to justice

Recent Examples on the Web

But on August 12, the police pounced, arresting both men and four accomplices, and seizing 1.5 million euros. —Brooke Seipel, Fortune Europe, 27 Oct. 2024

Combs threatened her with a knife and, along with several unknown accomplices, raped her, Parham says. —Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 16 Oct. 2024

Phillips also directs the new musical, which follows the Batman villain’s romance with his eventual accomplice, Harley Quinn. —Hannah Malach, WWD, 26 Sep. 2024

The gaggle of Midwestern tourists was awaiting Anna Surratt, whose mother was hanged as an accomplice in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. —N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Anglo-French acomplice, alteration of complice "associate" — more at complice

Note: The source of initial a(c)- is unclear. The earlier notion that a- represents fusion of the indefinite article cannot be maintained given the much earlier occurrences of the word in Anglo-French (in a 1384 petition of the Drapers guild, and in vol. 2 of the Rotuli Parliamentorum [1279-1377]). The suggestion that complice has been assimilated to accomplir, "to fulfill, etc.," (see accomplish) is not very compelling semantically.

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

accomplice

noun

ac·​com·​plice ə-ˈkäm-pləs  -ˈkəm- 

: someone associated with another in wrongdoing

Legal Definition

accomplice

noun

ac·​com·​plice ə-ˈkäm-pləs, -ˈkəm- 

: one who intentionally and voluntarily participates with another in a crime by encouraging or assisting in the commission of the crime or by failing to prevent it though under a duty to do so

the accomplice of the burglar

an accomplice in a robbery

Etymology

alteration (from incorrect division of a complice) of complice, from Middle French, associate, from Late Latin complic- complex partner, confederate