Culprit
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3
Problem Responsibility
Use 'culprit' to highlight who or what is to blame for a negative situation. The overworked server was the true culprit for the data loss.
Pro Tip 2/3
Informal Investigations
'Culprit' can be used informally to refer to the cause of small, everyday problems. Who's the culprit behind this kitchen mess?
Pro Tip 3/3
Not Always Criminal
Remember that 'culprit' doesn't solely refer to crimes; it can also be someone causing minor troubles. The squirrels are the culprits for our garden mayhem.