noun phrase · neutral

criminal record

UK/ˈkrɪmɪnəl ˈrɛkɔːd/US/ˈkrɪmənəl ˈrɛkɔːrd/CRIM·i·nal RE·cord

Band 4-5speakingtask2

an official record of the crimes a person has been convicted of

Examples

Employers often check applicants' criminal records before hiring for sensitive positions.

Because of his criminal record, he struggled to find steady employment.

Having a clean criminal record can make travel and job applications easier.

Band 8 sentence

A criminal record can create long‑term barriers to reintegration, so rehabilitation programs are crucial.

Collocations

  • a clean criminal record
  • have a criminal record

Word family

criminal adjective/nounrecord nounconviction noun

Common mistakes

criminals recordcriminal record

a criminal recordsa criminal record

Say it for a higher band

5criminals record6a criminal records7+criminal record

Synonyms

record of conviction

Easily confused

police record

After the conviction, his criminal record was updated.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Crime & Law

Learn it with its set