guilt

noun \ˈgilt\

: responsibility for a crime or for doing something bad or wrong

: a bad feeling caused by knowing or thinking that you have done something bad or wrong

Full Definition of GUILT

: the fact of having committed a breach of conduct especially violating law and involving a penalty; broadly : guilty conduct

a : the state of one who has committed an offense especially consciously

b : feelings of culpability especially for imagined offenses or from a sense of inadequacy : self-reproach

: a feeling of culpability for offenses

See guilt defined for English-language learners

See guilt defined for kids

Origin of GUILT

Middle English, delinquency, guilt, from Old English gylt delinquency

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to GUILT

Synonyms: contriteness, contrition, penitence, regret, remorse, remorsefulness, repentance, rue, self-reproach, shame

Antonyms: impenitence, remorselessness

Rhymes with GUILT

built, gilt, hilt, jilt, kilt, lilt, milt, quilt, silt, stilt, tilt, wilt

GUILT Defined for Kids

guilt

noun \ˈgilt\

Definition of GUILT for Kids

: responsibility for having done something wrong and especially something against the law <He admitted his guilt.>

: a feeling of shame or regret as a result of bad conduct

— guilt·less \-ləs\ adjective

Medical Dictionary

guilt

noun \ˈgilt\

Medical Definition of GUILT

: feelings of culpability especially for imagined offenses or from a sense of inadequacy : morbid self-reproach often manifest in marked preoccupation with the moral correctness of one's behavior <aggressive responses originating in inner guilt and uncertainty>