Crim·i·nal a.
1. Guilty of crime or sin.
The neglect of any of the relative duties renders us criminal in the sight of God. --Rogers.
2. Involving a crime; of the nature of a crime; -- said of an act or of conduct; as, criminal carelessness.
Foppish and fantastic ornaments are only indications of vice, not criminal in themselves. --Addison.
3. Relating to crime; -- opposed to civil; as, the criminal code.
The officers and servants of the crown, violating the personal liberty, or other right of the subject . . . were in some cases liable to criminal process. --Hallam.
Criminal action Law, an action or suit instituted to secure conviction and punishment for a crime.
Criminal conversation Law, unlawful intercourse with a married woman; adultery; -- usually abbreviated, crim. con.
Criminal law, the law which relates to crimes.
criminal conversation
n : extramarital sex that willfully and maliciously interferes
with marriage relations; "adultery is often cited as
grounds for divorce" [syn: adultery, fornication]