Pronunciation: [kɹˈɪmɪnə͡l] (IPA) 
The word "criminal" (/'krɪmɪnəl/) is spelled with a "c" and not a "k" due to its origin from the Latin word "crimen" which also began with a "c". The "i" between the "c" and the "m" in "criminal" represents the sound of the letter 'i' (/ɪ/). The word ends with "-al" which represents the sound of the letter 'a' followed by the sound of the letter 'l' (/əl/). Overall, the spelling of "criminal" is unique and distinct.
Criminal is an adjective that refers to something related to crime or unlawful activities. It can also function as a noun, describing a person who has been convicted and proven guilty of committing a crime.
In general, criminal actions involve behavior that is prohibited by law, such as theft, assault, or murder. Criminal activities vary in their severity and can range from minor offenses like trespassing to more serious crimes like organized crime or terrorism. These actions are deemed illegal due to their potential harm or impact on society, and perpetrators may face various legal consequences as a result.
A criminal, as a noun, is a person who has been found guilty of committing a crime. This individual has typically been convicted through a judicial process, which guarantees their right to a fair trial and the opportunity to present a defense against the charges brought against them. Criminals can be sentenced to a variety of punishments depending on the gravity of their offense, including imprisonment, fines, probation, or community service.
It is important to note that the term "criminal" should not be used interchangeably with "accused" or "suspected," as those individuals have yet to be proven guilty in a court of law. Crimes must be determined through the legal process, and individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
• That violates a human or divine law; guilty of or tainted with crime; abandoned; wicked; in law, opposed to civil.
• A person who has violated human or divine laws; one guilty.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "criminal" originates from the Latin word "criminālis", which is derived from the noun "crimen", meaning "crime" or "accusation". In turn, "crimen" is thought to come from the Proto-Indo-European root "*krei-", meaning "to sieve" or "to discriminate". The concept behind this etymology is that accusation and judgment "sift" or differentiate innocent individuals from those guilty of a crime. Over time, "criminālis" evolved into "criminalis" in Latin and later entered the English language as "criminal".
