What does perpetrate mean?
Perpetrate is a formal transitive verb meaning to carry out or commit an act, especially a crime, fraud, violence, or another reprehensible act. It is not a neutral general synonym for “do”: choosing it signals that the act is objectionable or socially disapproved of, which makes it especially useful in legal, journalistic, and historical prose. The standard construction is “perpetrate” plus a direct object, as in “perpetrate a crime” or “perpetrate fraud.” Perpetrate is used in British and American English and is more common in writing than in everyday conversation. The word comes from Latin, where its ancestor meant “carry through” or “accomplish,” but English usage has become strongly associated with wrongdoing. Related words such as perpetual, perpetuate, and perpetuity developed from Latin forms expressing continuance or permanence. Knowing the distinction is useful: to perpetrate an offence is to carry it out, whereas to perpetuate a practice or tradition is to keep it existing. Both are formal, but they describe very different actions.
verbTo carry out or commit an act, especially a crime or other act of wrongdoing.
- Carry out or commit an act, especially a crime or other act of wrongdoing.
"The authorities accused the suspect of perpetrating fraud against several investors."
"The witness testified that the defendant had perpetrated a series of fraudulent transactions."
"Historians continue to debate the violence perpetrated during the conflict."
Perpetrate sounds like paperwork, but it belongs in the crime file: it means to carry out something seriously wrong.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does perpetrate come from?
English borrowed perpetrate in the early 17th century from Latin perpetrare, meaning “to carry through” or “accomplish.” Its Latin formation combines the prefix per-, conveying “through,” with patrare, associated with bringing something about. Modern English usage is now especially associated with crimes and other reprehensible acts, while closely related Latin-derived words such as perpetual, perpetuate, and perpetuity emphasize continuance or permanence.
Related word forms
How perpetrate is actually used
This is a formal word with a strongly negative connotation. It is normally transitive and takes a direct object naming the act, such as a crime, fraud, or act of violence. It is more common in legal, journalistic, academic, and historical writing than in everyday conversation.
Easily confused with perpetrate
To perpetrate an act is to carry it out, usually a reprehensible one, whereas to perpetuate a practice, tradition, or problem is to keep it continuing.