accomplice
Loading your saved state.
accomplice
A person who commits a criminal offense together with one or more other people. In the legal sense, a 'Mittäter' (accomplice) is equally involved in the planning and execution of the crime.
Die Polizei konnte den Haupttäter festnehmen, sucht aber noch nach zwei Mittätern.
The police were able to arrest the main perpetrator, but are still looking for two accomplices.
The word consists of the prefix 'Mit-' and the noun 'Täter' (perpetrator). The prefix 'Mit-' always means 'together' or 'jointly', so a 'Mittäter' (accomplice) is someone who commits the act together with others.
Der Fahrer des Fluchtautos gilt als Mittäter.
The driver of the getaway car is considered an accomplice.
The word belongs to a word family related to the topic of crime. Important related words are 'die Tat' (the criminal act) and 'der Täter' (the person who commits the act).
Die Tat wurde von einem Haupttäter und einem Mittäter geplant.
The crime was planned by a main perpetrator and an accomplice.
This word is used almost exclusively in legal contexts or in reporting on crime. You find it in police reports, court reports, and news articles.
Die Staatsanwaltschaft hat Anklage gegen den Täter und seine beiden Mittäter erhoben.
The public prosecutor's office has brought charges against the perpetrator and his two accomplices.
perpetrator / culprit
'der Täter' and 'der Mittäter' both refer to people involved in a criminal offense. 'Täter' can be one individual person or, more generally, the person who committed the act. 'Mittäter' says more specifically that someone was involved in the act together with others. So the word emphasizes the joint act. The words can be confused because a 'Mittäter' is also a 'Täter'. If you only want to say who committed the act, 'Täter' is enough. If it is important that several people acted together, 'Mittäter' is more precise.
Ein Mittäter wartete im Auto, während die anderen in das Haus gingen.
An accomplice waited in the car while the others went into the house.
Der Täter hat die Tür aufgebrochen und ist durch den Garten geflohen.
The perpetrator broke open the door and fled through the garden.