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

The ringleaders bribed postal carriers to steal the refund checks from the mail and gave accomplices phony identification to use at check-cashing places. —Brian Sloan, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2025

Thinking Evie and her accomplice are killers fleeing the scene of their crime, Serena attacks with a lamp and the scene ends with Evie smashing a vase against Serena’s head before escaping with the mystery woman in Evie’s car. —Rob Merrill, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2025

This second term requires a new understanding: the showman is not at odds with the would-be strongman but his accomplice. —Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2025

The prisoner and his co-conspirator now both face a murder charge, and two other accomplices received prison sentences after pleading guilty to crimes related to the escape. —Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Mar. 2025

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