perp

1 of 2

noun

ˈpərp How to pronounce perp (audio)
plural perps
Synonyms of perpnext
: a perpetrator especially of a crime see also perp walk

perp

2 of 2

abbreviation

perpendicular

Examples of perp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Demand for perps has been high. — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 15 June 2026 Both perps then fled the station. — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 27 May 2026 But then a rumor started that Detective Jennifer Lawrence was the one who’d ID’d the perp. — Kate Aurthur, Variety, 11 June 2026 In crypto markets, it is often expressed through perpetual futures, or perps, which allow traders to take directional positions with deeper liquidity. — Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for perp

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of perp was in 1968

Phrases Containing perp

Browse Nearby Words

peroxysulfuric acid
perp
per pais
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Perp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perp. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Legal Definition

perp

noun
ˈpərp How to pronounce perp (audio)
: a perpetrator of a crime

More from Merriam-Webster on perp

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for perp

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All