Cool MateCriminals vs Crooks
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Criminals
Top 2,000 (common)
Crooks
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Criminals
| Criminals | Crooks | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈkrɪmɪnəlz//🇺🇸 //ˈkrɪmɪnəlz// | 🇬🇧 //krʊks//🇺🇸 //krʊks// |
| Meaning | People who break the law. | People who do bad things to get money. |
| Example | The police arrested several **criminals** after the bank robbery. | The crooks managed to escape before the police arrived. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | repeat criminals, organized criminals, petty criminals, violent criminals, convicted criminals | catch crooks, crooks and thieves, crooks in the city |
| Antonyms | law-abiding citizens, good people, innocents | honest, lawful, upright |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'criminal' (singular) and 'criminals' (plural)., Using 'criminals' when referring to someone accused but not convicted., Overusing in non-legal contexts may seem inappropriate. | Confused with 'criminals'—crooks can be more informal., Used in singular form—correctly is 'crooks' for more than one., Assumed to only mean violent offenders, but it can refer to any dishonest person. |
| Usage notes | Use 'criminals' in discussions about crime. It's appropriate in news and legal contexts but may sound harsh in casual conversations. | Usually used in casual conversations. Not appropriate in a formal setting. Can also imply humor. |
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Frequently asked questions: Criminals vs Crooks
What's the difference between Criminals and Crooks?
Criminals: People who break the law. Crooks: People who do bad things to get money.
Which is more formal: Criminals and Crooks?
Criminals is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Criminals: The police arrested several **criminals** after the bank robbery. Crooks: The crooks managed to escape before the police arrived.
Can I use Criminals and Crooks interchangeably?
Not always. Criminals and Crooks are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.