guilt

[ gilt ]
/ gɪlt /

noun

the fact or state of having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, especially against moral or penal law; culpability: He admitted his guilt.
a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined.
conduct involving the commission of such crimes, wrongs, etc.: to live a life of guilt.

verb (used with object) Informal.

to cause to feel guilty (often followed by out or into): She totally guilted me out, dude. He guilted me into picking up the tab. See also guilt-trip.

Origin of guilt

before 1000; Middle English gilt, Old English gylt offense

OTHER WORDS FROM guilt

non·guilt, noun pre·guilt, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH guilt

gild gilt guild guilt

Example sentences from the Web for guilt

British Dictionary definitions for guilt

guilt
/ (ɡɪlt) /

noun

the fact or state of having done wrong or committed an offence
responsibility for a criminal or moral offence deserving punishment or a penalty
remorse or self-reproach caused by feeling that one is responsible for a wrong or offence
archaic sin or crime

Word Origin for guilt

Old English gylt, of obscure origin