guilt definition - Dictionary

MSN homeMailMy MSN

encartagreeting cards

encarta®

Dictionary

Thesaurus

Translations

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

	Guinea

	guinea

	Guinea-Bissau

	guinea fowl

	guinea grass

	Guinea, Gulf of

	guinea pig

	guinea worm

	guinep

	Guinevere

	guipure

	guiro

	guise

	guiser

	guitar

	guitarfish

	guiver

Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

guilt

guilt [ gilt ]

noun

Definition:

1. awareness of wrongdoing: an awareness of having done wrong or committed a crime, accompanied by feelings of shame and regret

feelings of guilt

2. fact of wrongdoing: the fact of having committed a crime or done wrong

an admission of guilt

3. responsibility for wrongdoing: the responsibility for committing a crime or doing wrong

Some of the guilt must attach to the parents.

4. legal culpability: the responsibility, as determined by a court or other legal authority, for committing an offense that carries a legal penalty

[ Old English gylt, origin ?]

Spelling Note


	guilt or gilt? Do not confuse the spelling of guilt and gilt, which sound similar. Guilt is a noun denoting the fact or awareness of having done wrong: Guilt was written all over her face. Gilt is a noun or adjective referring to a thin layer of gold (as in lettering in gilt, gilt picture frames).