accomplice

Everyday

An accomplice is a person who helps someone else do something wrong or commit a crime. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, detective books and the news, the thief has an accomplice who keeps watch or drives the car. In law, an accomplice can also be punished. In ethics and friendship lessons, being someone's accomplice in teasing or cheating makes you part of it. Phrases: «an accomplice in», «his accomplice».

Examples

• The robber's accomplice waited in the getaway car. tree →
• The police arrested the thief and his accomplice. tree →
• I won't be your accomplice in hiding Mum's birthday cake. tree →
• Laughing along with a bully can make you an accomplice. tree →
• (jokey) The dog was my accomplice in the great biscuit raid. tree →
• The detective guessed that the butler had an accomplice. tree →
• So she and her accomplice were put in a ship which was bored through with holes, and were drawn out into the sea, where they soon perished in the waves. tree →

Note

Countable. Say «a-KOM-plis». Do not confuse with «accomplish» (to succeed in doing something). An accomplice is a helper in wrongdoing; for a helper in good things say «partner» or «helper».