- criminal ringleader
- chief culprit
- fig. cause of a problem
Generated: This meaning refers to the person who leads a group involved in illegal activities. It often describes a leader among wrongdoers.
Generated: This usage identifies the primary person responsible for a wrongdoing or crime, often used in a legal or investigative context.
Generated: Here, it is used metaphorically to describe the primary reason or source of an issue or difficulty.
Long-term unemployment is the chief culprit of the economic crisis.