1 One who has committed a crime. 2 One who has been convicted of a crime. 3 Constituting, implying, or involving a crime or an element of a crime. 4 Pertaining to some aspect of the penal code or its administration. career criminal. One who repeatedly commits crimes, especially of the same type. See also habitual criminal. habitual criminal. One who has been convicted of one or more crimes in the past and, as a result, is subject to a more severe sentence under the habitual offender statute o...