guilt

Universal Words noun [U] 1 ~ (about sth) the unhappy feelings caused by knowing or thinking that you have done sth wrong: She had feelings of guilt about leaving her children and going to work. * Many survivors were left with a sense of guilt. * a guilt complex (= an exaggerated sense of guilt) 2 the fact that sb has done sth illegal: His guilt was proved beyond all doubt by the prosecution. * an admission of guilt OPPINNOCENCE 3 blame or responsibility for doing sth wrong or for sth bad that has happened: The investigation will try to find out where the guilt for the disaster really lies. guiltless adjective IDIOMS a guilt trip (informal) things you say to sb in order to make them feel guilty about sth: Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.