Complicit

Complicit

An individual is complicit in a crime if they are aware of its occurrence, have the ability to report the crime, but fail to do so. As such the individual effectively allows the criminals to carry out a crime despite easily being able to stop them, either directly or by contacting the authorities thus making them a de-facto accessory to the crime rather than innocent bystanders.

Law relating to complicity varies. Usually complicity is not a crime although this sometimes conflicts with popular perception. See The Finale (Seinfeld episode). At a certain point a person that is complicit in a crime may become a conspirator depending on the degree of involvement by the individual and whether a crime was completed or not.


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  • complicit — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ involved with others in an unlawful activity …   English terms dictionary

  • complicit — [[t]kəmplɪ̱sɪt[/t]] ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ in n If someone is complicit in a crime or unfair activity, they are involved in it. [JOURNALISM] He did not witness her execution, yet he and the others are complicit in her death... A mother who does not… …   English dictionary

  • complicit — adjective involved in or knowing about a situation, especially one that is morally wrong or dishonest: They exchanged complicit smiles. | complicit in sth: The careers of the officers complicit in the cover up were ruined …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • complicit — com·plic·it (kəm plĭsʹĭt) adj. Associated with or participating in a questionable act or a crime; having complicity: newspapers complicit with the propaganda arm of a dictatorship.   [Back formation from complicity.] * * * …   Universalium

  • complicit — adjective /kəmˈplɪs.ɪt/ Associated with or participating in an activity, especially one of a questionable nature. It [slavery] has set the seal of a complicit, guilty silence upon the most orthodox pulpits and the saintliest tongues, Syn:… …   Wiktionary

  • complicit — com|plic|it [ kəm plısıt ] adjective involved in or knowing about something bad that happens: The government itself may have been complicit in the violence …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • complicit — [kəm plɪsɪt] adjective involved with others in an unlawful activity: the minister was not complicit in the corruption …   English new terms dictionary

  • complicit — UK [kəmˈplɪsɪt] / US adjective involved in or knowing about something bad that happens The government itself may have been complicit in the violence …   English dictionary

  • complicit — /kəmˈplɪsət/ (say kuhm plisuht) adjective involved with a degree of guilt: a company complicit in safety abuses. {backformation from complicity} …  

  • complicit — (ˌ)kəmˈplisə̇t adjective Etymology: back formation from complicity : having complicity who, having abjured killing in revulsion against the war, finds himself guiltily complicit in it in the revolution C.E.Schorske …   Useful english dictionary

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