The term guilty refers to a person who has been convicted by a court or who has admitted of a crime. After a plea of no contest, the defendant might also be ruled guilty by a court.
Under civil law, the term guilty usually means a misconduct rather than a crime. It may refer to fraud, assault, or other intentional misconducts. The use of the word guilty in civil lawsuits is often confusing as it should only be used in criminal cases.