Law & Justice
Crime, courts, police and the language of the legal system.
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71 words
Definitions in: English- 1courtnounneutral
The place or institution where legal cases are heard and decided
The case will go to court next month.
- 2judgenounneutral
The official who presides over a court and decides cases or sentences
The judge sentenced him to five years in prison.
- 3lawyernounneutral
A professional who advises clients and represents them in legal matters
You should speak to a lawyer before signing anything.
- 4trialnounneutral
The formal examination of evidence in court to decide a case
The trial lasted three weeks.
- 5verdictnounneutral
The decision reached by a jury or judge at the end of a trial
The jury reached a verdict after two days.
- 6jurynounneutral
A group of citizens who decide the verdict in a trial
The jury was unable to agree on a verdict.
- 7witnessnounneutral
A person who gives evidence in court about what they saw or know
The key witness failed to appear in court.
- 8testifyverbneutral
To give evidence under oath in a court of law
She agreed to testify against her former boss.
- 9defendantnountechnicalneutral
The person accused or sued in a court case
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges.
- 10prosecutionnountechnicalneutral
The legal party that brings a case against someone in a criminal trial
The prosecution called its first witness.
- 11defencenountechnicalneutral
The party or arguments used to defend an accused person in court
The defence argued that the evidence was unreliable.
- 12casenounneutral
A matter or dispute decided in a court of law
The case was dismissed for lack of evidence.
- 13crimenounneutral
An act that breaks the law and is punishable by the state
Violent crime has fallen in the city this year.
- 14criminalnounneutral
A person who has committed a crime
The police are determined to catch the criminals responsible.
- 15stealverbneutral
To take something that belongs to someone else without permission
Someone stole my bike from outside the station.
- 16theftnounneutral
The crime of stealing someone's property
He was charged with theft after the incident.
- 17robverbneutral
To take money or property from a person or place, often using force or threats
Two men robbed the bank at gunpoint.
- 18robberynounneutral
The crime of taking property from a person or place by force or threat
The armed robbery took place in broad daylight.
- 19burglarynounneutral
The crime of breaking into a building to steal things
There has been a series of burglaries in our neighbourhood.
- 20murdernounneutral
The crime of deliberately killing another person
He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life.
- 21fraudnounneutral
The crime of deceiving people to gain money or advantage illegally
She was arrested for credit card fraud.
- 22briberynounneutral
The crime of offering money or gifts to influence someone improperly
The official was charged with bribery and corruption.
- 23smuggleverbneutral
To move goods or people illegally across a border or into a place
They tried to smuggle drugs through customs.
- 24kidnapverbneutral
To take someone away illegally by force, often for ransom
The businessman was kidnapped on his way to work.
- 25offencenounneutral
An illegal act; a breach of the law
Drink-driving is a serious offence.
- 26victimnounneutral
A person who has been harmed by a crime or accident
The victim described her attacker to the police.
- 27policenounneutral
The official force responsible for maintaining law and order
Call the police if you see anything suspicious.
- 28arrestverbneutral
To seize someone by legal authority and take them into custody
Police arrested two men in connection with the robbery.
- 29arrestnounneutral
The act of being taken into police custody
The officers made several arrests during the protest.
- 30investigateverbneutral
To examine a crime or situation carefully to find out the truth
Detectives are investigating the cause of the fire.
- 31investigationnounneutral
An official examination of the facts surrounding a crime or event
The investigation is still ongoing.
- 32evidencenounneutral
Facts or objects that help prove whether something is true in a legal case
There wasn't enough evidence to convict him.
- 33suspectnounneutral
A person believed to be guilty of a crime but not yet proven
Police have named a suspect in the case.
- 34suspectverbneutral
To believe that someone may be guilty of something
Police suspect that the fire was started deliberately.
- 35detectivenounneutral
A police officer or person who investigates crimes
The detective questioned everyone in the building.
- 36interrogateverbneutral
To question someone closely and aggressively, especially a suspect
The suspect was interrogated for hours.
- 37chargeverbneutral
To formally accuse someone of a crime
He was charged with dangerous driving.
- 38chargenounneutral
A formal accusation that someone has committed a crime
He denies all the charges against him.
- 39accuseverbneutral
To say that someone has done something wrong or illegal
They accused him of stealing the money.
- 40guiltyadjectiveneutral
Having committed a crime or being responsible for wrongdoing
The jury found him guilty on all counts.
- 41innocentadjectiveneutral
Not guilty of a crime; having done nothing wrong
He insists that he is completely innocent.
- 42convictverbneutral
To find and declare someone guilty of a crime in court
He was convicted of fraud last year.
- 43acquitverbformal
To officially declare that someone is not guilty of a crime
The court acquitted her of all charges.
- 44sentencenounneutral
The punishment given to a convicted person by a court
He received a ten-year sentence.
- 45sentenceverbneutral
To give a punishment to a convicted person
The judge sentenced him to community service.
- 46finenounneutral
A sum of money that must be paid as a punishment
He had to pay a heavy fine for speeding.
- 47prisonnounneutral
A place where people are held as punishment for crimes
He spent five years in prison.
- 48imprisonmentnounformal
The state of being kept in prison as a punishment
He faces life imprisonment if convicted.
- 49rightsnounneutral
The legal or moral entitlements a person has, such as freedom and fair treatment
You have the right to remain silent.
- 50lawnounneutral
A rule established by authority that everyone must obey
It's against the law to drive without a licence.
- 51legaladjectiveneutral
Allowed by the law; relating to the law
It is perfectly legal to record the conversation.
- 52illegaladjectiveneutral
Not allowed by the law; against the law
It is illegal to sell alcohol to minors.
- 53justicenounneutral
Fair treatment under the law; the system of upholding the law
The family is still seeking justice for their son.
- 54appealnountechnicalneutral
A formal request to a higher court to review a decision
His lawyers have lodged an appeal against the verdict.
- 55bailnountechnicalneutral
Money paid so that an accused person can be released until their trial
He was released on bail of £10,000.
- 56pleadverbtechnicalneutral
To formally state in court whether you are guilty or not guilty
How do you plead — guilty or not guilty?
- 57punishmentnounneutral
A penalty imposed on someone for breaking the law
The punishment should fit the crime.
- 58commit a crimeexpressionneutral
To do something illegal; to carry out a criminal act
He claims he didn't commit the crime.
- 59break the lawexpressionneutral
To do something that is against the law
You're breaking the law by driving so fast.
- 60take someone to courtexpressionneutral
To start a legal action against someone
If they don't pay, we'll take them to court.
- 61sueverbneutral
To make a legal claim against someone, usually for compensation
He's threatening to sue the newspaper for libel.
- 62fingerprintnounneutral
A mark left by a finger, used to identify people in investigations
His fingerprints were found all over the weapon.
- 63alibinounneutral
Evidence that someone was elsewhere when a crime was committed
He has a solid alibi for the night of the murder.
- 64confessverbneutral
To admit that you have committed a crime or done something wrong
After hours of questioning, he finally confessed.
- 65guiltnounneutral
The fact of having committed a crime; responsibility for wrongdoing
The prosecution must prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
- 66trespassverbneutral
To enter someone's land or property without permission
You're trespassing on private property.
- 67parolenountechnicalneutral
The early release of a prisoner on condition of good behaviour
He was released on parole after serving half his sentence.
- 68assaultnounneutral
In law, the act of causing a person to fear immediate unlawful force (physical contact is technically 'battery'); in common usage, a physical attack
He was charged with assault after threatening the man with a raised fist.
- 69defensenounneutralAmerican English
American English spelling of 'defence,' the side that defends the accused in a legal case (also the act of defending).
The defense argued that their client had a solid alibi.
- 70offensenounneutralAmerican English
American English spelling of 'offence,' a crime or illegal act.
Driving without a license is a serious offense.
- 71attorneynounneutralAmerican English
American English word for a lawyer, a legal professional who represents clients in court.
You have the right to speak with an attorney before answering questions.
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The law speaks in exact terms, and reaching for the wrong one changes the meaning entirely. This pack gives you that precision: the vocabulary of the courtroom – judge, lawyer, trial, verdict – alongside the words for crime and the justice system. At an advanced level, it lets you follow a case in the news, read a legal story closely and discuss questions of justice with accuracy.