What is the difference between guilt and shame?

Guilt is about what you did. Shame is about how you feel about yourself.

Is guilt a formal word?

Yes, it is common in everyday English and also in academic writing.

Can guilt mean a legal result?

Yes. It can mean that someone is responsible for a crime.

← Dictionary

guilt

/ɡɪlt/

IELTSAcademic

noun

Guilt is the unhappy feeling you get when you think you have done something wrong. It can also mean the fact that someone is responsible for a crime or mistake.

She felt guilt after lying to her friend.
The report showed his guilt clearly.

Adinary Nuance

Guilt is a feeling or a state of responsibility after wrongdoing. It is different from shame, which is more about feeling bad about yourself in front of others. It is also different from regret, which can mean simply wishing you had done something else, even if you did not do wrong.

In other languages

Vietnamese: cảm giác tội lỗi
Spanish: culpa
Chinese: 内疚
Japanese: 罪悪感
Korean: 죄책감

Etymology

Guilt comes from Old English gylt, meaning a fault or wrongdoing. The word has been used in English for many centuries.

Common phrases

feel guilta sense of guiltguilt and shameguilt trip

Synonyms

remorse shame culpability

Related words

blame innocence responsibility regret

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between guilt and shame?: Guilt is about what you did. Shame is about how you feel about yourself.
Is guilt a formal word?: Yes, it is common in everyday English and also in academic writing.
Can guilt mean a legal result?: Yes. It can mean that someone is responsible for a crime.