c1Vocabulary Pack

Law & Justice

Crime, courts, police and the language of the legal system.

71 words

English vocabulary

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71 words

Definitions in: English

Same-language deck – the back side will show definitions, and example sentences will hide the target word.

1
plaintiffnounformaltechnical
Used in civil law for the party who initiates a lawsuit.
The plaintiff is seeking damages of over two million dollars.
2
prosecutornounformaltechnical
The lawyer who conducts the case against a defendant on behalf of the state.
The prosecutor told the jury that the evidence was overwhelming.
3
attorneynounformaltechnicalAmerican English
Chiefly American English term for a qualified lawyer.
You have the right to an attorney; if you cannot afford one, the court will appoint one.
4
barristernounformaltechnical
In the UK system, a lawyer qualified to argue cases in higher courts.
She hired a leading barrister to represent her at the Crown Court.
5
solicitornounformaltechnical
In the UK, a lawyer who advises clients and prepares cases, usually outside court.
Before signing anything, you should really speak to a solicitor.
6
magistratenounformaltechnical
A judicial officer who hears minor cases in a lower court.
The case was heard by a magistrate before being referred to a higher court.
7
indictverbformaltechnical
To formally charge someone with a serious crime, typically by a grand jury.
A grand jury voted to indict him on three counts of fraud.
8
indictmentnounformaltechnical
A formal written charge accusing someone of a serious crime.
The indictment runs to over forty pages and lists dozens of charges.
9
allegeverbformal
To claim something is true without yet having proven it, especially of wrongdoing.
Prosecutors allege that he diverted company funds into a private account.
10
allegationnounformalneutral
An unproven claim that someone has done something illegal or wrong.
The company has firmly denied all the allegations against it.
11
perjurynounformaltechnical
The crime of lying under oath in a legal proceeding.
If you lie on the stand, you can be charged with perjury.
12
testimonynounformal
A formal statement given under oath, usually in court.
Her testimony contradicted everything the defendant had claimed.
13
cross-examineverbformaltechnical
To question a witness called by the opposing side in order to test their evidence.
The defense lawyer cross-examined the witness for nearly three hours.
14
subpoenanounformaltechnical
A legal order requiring someone to appear in court or produce documents.
She was served with a subpoena to testify before the committee.
15
warrantnounformaltechnical
A legal document authorizing police to make an arrest or conduct a search.
Officers couldn't enter the building without a search warrant.
16
detainverbformal
To hold someone in official custody, often before charges are filed.
Police can detain a suspect for up to 24 hours without charge.
17
remandverbformaltechnical
To send an accused person back into custody to await trial.
The judge remanded him in custody until the trial date.
18
probationnounformaltechnical
A period during which an offender is supervised instead of being imprisoned.
He was given two years' probation rather than a custodial sentence.
19
acquittalnounformaltechnical
A court's formal decision that a defendant is not guilty.
The acquittal came as a shock to everyone in the courtroom.
20
convictionnounformaltechnical
A formal court finding that someone is guilty of a crime.
The conviction was later quashed on appeal.
21
felonynounformaltechnical
In US law, a serious crime carrying a substantial penalty.
Armed robbery is a felony that can carry a lengthy prison term.
22
misdemeanournounformaltechnical
A minor offence less serious than a felony; US spelling 'misdemeanor'.
He was charged with a misdemeanour and let off with a small fine.
23
manslaughternounformaltechnical
Unlawful killing without the premeditation required for murder.
The jury found him guilty of manslaughter rather than murder.
24
homicidenounformaltechnical
The killing of one person by another; also a police department term.
Detectives from the homicide unit were called to the scene.
25
embezzlementnounformaltechnical
The crime of stealing money that has been entrusted to one's care.
The accountant was jailed for embezzlement after siphoning off company funds.
26
forgerynounformaltechnical
The crime of producing a fake copy of a document, signature, or artwork.
The signature on the will turned out to be a forgery.
27
extortionnounformaltechnical
Obtaining money or favours through threats or coercion.
The gang demanded protection money in a classic case of extortion.
28
arsonnounformaltechnical
The crime of deliberately setting fire to property.
Investigators suspect arson because traces of petrol were found.
29
shopliftingnounneutral
The crime of stealing goods from a shop while pretending to be a customer.
Stores are installing more cameras to combat shoplifting.
30
traffickingnounformaltechnical
The illegal trade in people, drugs, weapons, or other goods.
He was arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking.
31
perpetratornounformal
The person who actually commits a crime or harmful act.
Police are still searching for the perpetrators of the attack.
32
accomplicenounneutral
A person who helps another commit a crime.
He insisted he was an innocent bystander, not an accomplice.
33
culpritnounneutral
The person responsible for a crime or wrongdoing; often used loosely.
The police are confident they've identified the culprit.
34
incriminateverbformal
To make someone appear guilty of a crime.
You have the right to remain silent so as not to incriminate yourself.
35
exonerateverbformal
To officially clear someone of blame or of a criminal charge.
New DNA evidence finally exonerated the wrongly convicted man.
36
litigationnounformaltechnical
The process of taking legal action through the courts, especially in civil disputes.
The dispute dragged on through years of costly litigation.
37
lawsuitnounneutral
A claim or dispute brought before a civil court.
She filed a lawsuit against her former employer for unfair dismissal.
38
settlementnounformalneutral
An agreement that resolves a legal dispute, usually without a full trial.
The two sides reached an out-of-court settlement worth millions.
39
damagesnounformaltechnical
Money awarded by a court to compensate for loss or injury.
The court awarded her substantial damages for the injury.
40
liableadjectiveformaltechnical
Legally responsible for something, especially a debt or wrongdoing.
The company was held liable for the damage caused by the leak.
41
defamationnounformaltechnical
The act of damaging someone's reputation with false statements.
He sued the newspaper for defamation over the front-page story.
42
libelnounformaltechnical
Defamation in a permanent form, especially in writing or print.
The article was found to be libel and the paper had to print an apology.
43
hearingnounformaltechnical
A session before a court or official body to consider evidence or arguments.
The bail hearing has been scheduled for Monday morning.
44
tribunalnounformaltechnical
A specialized body or court set up to settle certain types of dispute.
She took her case to an employment tribunal.
45
jurisdictionnounformaltechnical
The official authority of a court or body to make legal decisions, or the area it covers.
The case falls outside the court's jurisdiction.
46
statutenounformaltechnical
A written law passed by a legislative body.
The practice is expressly forbidden under the new statute.
47
precedentnounformaltechnical
An earlier court decision used as a guide in later similar cases.
The ruling sets a dangerous precedent for future cases.
48
breachnounformaltechnical
A violation of a law, contract, or duty.
Sharing the data was a clear breach of the contract.
49
enforceverbformalneutral
To make sure that a law or rule is obeyed.
It's one thing to pass a law and quite another to enforce it.
50
inmatenounneutral
A person confined in a prison.
The prison houses over a thousand inmates.
51
fugitivenounneutral
A person who is running away or hiding, especially from the law.
He lived as a fugitive for nearly a decade before being caught.
52
apprehendverbformaltechnical
To catch and arrest a suspect; formal police usage.
The suspect was apprehended less than a mile from the scene.
53
surveillancenounformaltechnical
Close observation of a person or place, especially by police.
The house had been under police surveillance for weeks.
54
behind barsidiominformal
In prison; a vivid way of saying someone is incarcerated.
He'll be behind bars for at least the next ten years.
55
miscarriage of justiceexpressionformal
A failure of the justice system, especially the wrongful conviction of an innocent person.
His conviction was later recognised as a serious miscarriage of justice.
56
beyond reasonable doubtexpressionformaltechnical
The standard of proof required to convict someone in a criminal trial.
The prosecution must prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
57
restraining orderexpressionformaltechnical
A court order forbidding someone from approaching or contacting another person.
She took out a restraining order against her former partner.
58
capital punishmentexpressionformal
The legal punishment of execution for a serious crime.
Many countries have abolished capital punishment altogether.
59
life sentenceexpressionneutraltechnical
A prison sentence intended to last for the rest of the offender's life, or a very long term.
He was handed a life sentence with no possibility of parole for twenty years.
60
custodynounformaltechnical
The state of being held by police, or legal guardianship of a child.
The suspect is currently in police custody awaiting questioning.
61
blackmailnounneutralformal/technical
Demanding money or favours under threat of revealing damaging information.
She refused to give in to blackmail and went straight to the police.
62
vandalismnounneutraltechnical
The deliberate destruction or defacement of property.
The park has been plagued by vandalism for months.
63
offendernounformaltechnical
A person who has committed a crime.
The scheme is designed to help young offenders turn their lives around.
64
negligencenounformaltechnical
Failure to take reasonable care, resulting in harm to another.
The hospital was found liable for negligence in her treatment.
65
caught red-handedidiominformal
Caught in the act of doing something wrong, with no room for denial.
The thief was caught red-handed with the jewellery in his pocket.
66
get away withphrasal verbinformal
To escape punishment or blame for something wrong.
He thought he could get away with fraud, but the auditors caught him.
67
crack downphrasal verbneutralformal
To take strong, decisive action against an illegal activity.
The government has promised to crack down on organised crime.
68
take the law into your own handsidiomneutral
To act as judge and enforcer yourself instead of relying on the authorities.
Frustrated by police inaction, some residents began to take the law into their own hands.
69
claimantnounneutralBritish English
British English word for the person who brings a civil claim to court; replaced 'plaintiff' in England and Wales in 1999.
The claimant is seeking damages for breach of contract.
The person bringing the civil claim is seeking damages for breach of contract.
70
misdemeanornounneutralAmerican English
American English spelling for a minor criminal offence.
He was charged with a misdemeanor rather than a felony.
He was charged with a minor offence rather than a serious one.
71
beyond a reasonable doubtphraseneutralAmerican English
American English wording for the high standard of proof required for a criminal conviction.
The jury must be convinced of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The jury must be certain of guilt to the highest legal standard.

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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.