Law & Justice
Crime, courts, police and the language of the legal system.
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65 words
Definitions in: English- 1mens reanountechnicalformal
Latin legal term for the mental element of a crime — the guilty intention
Without proving mens rea, the prosecution cannot establish that it was murder rather than an accident.
Without proving the guilty intent, the prosecution cannot establish that it was murder rather than an accident.
- 2actus reusnountechnicalformal
Latin legal term for the physical act or conduct constituting a crime
The actus reus was never in dispute; everyone agreed he pulled the trigger.
The physical act was never in dispute; everyone agreed he pulled the trigger.
- 3affidavitnountechnicalformal
A written statement confirmed by oath, used as evidence
She signed an affidavit swearing she had never met the defendant.
- 4depositionnountechnicalformal
Sworn out-of-court testimony recorded before trial, common in US litigation
During his deposition, the executive contradicted three of his earlier emails.
- 5arraignverbtechnicalformal
To formally bring an accused before a court to hear the charges and enter a plea
He was arraigned on three counts of fraud and pleaded not guilty to all of them.
- 6plea bargainnounneutral
An agreement where the accused pleads guilty in exchange for a lighter charge or sentence
Rather than risk a trial, she accepted a plea bargain and got two years instead of ten.
- 7contempt of courtexpressiontechnicalformal
Conduct that defies or disrespects the authority of a court
The journalist was held in contempt of court for refusing to name her source.
- 8mitigating circumstancesexpressionformal
Factors that lessen the moral or legal blame and may reduce a sentence
The judge cited his age and his cooperation as mitigating circumstances.
- 9aggravatingadjectiveformaltechnical
Describing factors that make an offence more serious and worthy of harsher punishment
The fact that he targeted an elderly victim was treated as an aggravating factor.
- 10duressnounformal
Unlawful pressure or threats used to force someone to act; can be a legal defence
She claimed she had signed the confession under duress.
- 11coercionnounformal
The practice of compelling someone to act by force or intimidation
The contract was void because it had been obtained through coercion.
- 12entrapmentnountechnicalformal
The act of inducing someone to commit a crime they would not otherwise have committed, by law enforcement
His lawyer argued entrapment, claiming the undercover officer had practically begged him to sell the drugs.
- 13slandernounformaltechnical
Spoken defamation that damages a person's reputation
He sued his former partner for slander after the remarks at the conference.
- 14larcenynountechnicalformal
The unlawful taking of another's property; a formal, chiefly US term for theft
He was charged with grand larceny after stealing the car.
- 15racketeeringnountechnical
Operating an illegal business or extortion scheme, often linked to organised crime
The indictment charged the family with racketeering and money laundering.
- 16conspiracynounneutraltechnical
An agreement between two or more people to commit an unlawful act
They were convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud, even though the scheme never paid out.
- 17collusionnounformal
Secret cooperation in order to deceive others or commit fraud
Investigators found clear evidence of collusion between the two firms to rig the bids.
- 18accessorynountechnicalformal
A person who assists the perpetrator before or after the crime without being the principal offender
She was charged as an accessory after the fact for helping him hide the weapon.
- 19aid and abetexpressiontechnicalformal
To help and encourage someone in the commission of a crime
He was convicted of aiding and abetting the robbery by driving the getaway car.
- 20exculpatoryadjectivetechnicalformal
Tending to clear someone of blame or guilt, especially of evidence
The prosecution was accused of withholding exculpatory evidence from the defence.
- 21tortnountechnical
A civil wrong, other than breach of contract, for which the law provides a remedy
Negligence is the most common tort brought before the civil courts.
- 22injunctionnountechnicalformal
A court order requiring a party to do or refrain from doing something
The company obtained an injunction to stop the newspaper publishing the article.
- 23summonsnounformaltechnical
An official order to appear before a court
He ignored the summons and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
- 24quashverbformaltechnical
To officially reject or annul a conviction, verdict, or legal decision
The appeal court quashed his conviction after the new evidence emerged.
- 25overturnverbneutral
To reverse a previous decision or verdict, especially on appeal
The higher court overturned the original ruling and ordered a retrial.
- 26appellantnountechnicalformal
The party who appeals a court's decision to a higher court
The appellant argued that the trial judge had misdirected the jury.
- 27adjudicateverbformaltechnical
To make a formal judgment on a disputed matter
An independent panel was appointed to adjudicate the dispute.
- 28arbitrationnounformaltechnical
The settling of a dispute by an impartial third party outside the courts
The contract requires both parties to go to arbitration before suing.
- 29mediationnounneutraltechnical
A process in which a neutral third party helps disputing sides reach a voluntary agreement
The couple opted for mediation rather than a contested divorce.
- 30malfeasancenounformaltechnical
Wrongdoing or misconduct, especially by a public official
The inquiry uncovered widespread malfeasance at the highest levels of the agency.
- 31recidivismnountechnicalformal
The tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend
Rehabilitation programmes are designed to reduce recidivism among young offenders.
- 32incarcerateverbformal
To imprison or confine someone, especially as a legal punishment
Thousands are incarcerated each year for non-violent offences.
- 33clemencynounformal
Mercy or leniency shown to an offender, especially by reducing a sentence
His family appealed to the governor for clemency hours before the execution.
- 34pardonnounformal
An official act forgiving a crime and cancelling the penalty
The president granted him a full pardon on his last day in office.
- 35reprievenounformal
A formal postponement or cancellation of a punishment, especially of execution
The condemned man was granted a last-minute reprieve.
- 36commuteverbformaltechnical
To reduce a judicial sentence to a less severe one
His death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.
- 37restitutionnounformaltechnical
The restoration of, or compensation for, what was lost or taken; payment to a victim
The court ordered him to pay restitution to the families he had defrauded.
- 38impunitynounformal
Exemption from punishment or the consequences of one's actions
For years the cartel operated with complete impunity.
- 39jurisprudencenountechnicalformal
The theory or philosophy of law, or a body of case law on a subject
This ruling will reshape jurisprudence on privacy for a generation.
- 40statute of limitationsexpressiontechnicalformal
A law setting the maximum time after an event within which legal proceedings may be brought
The case was dismissed because the statute of limitations had expired.
- 41double jeopardyexpressiontechnicalformal
The legal principle that no one may be tried twice for the same offence
He couldn't be retried for the killing because of double jeopardy.
- 42self-incriminationnountechnicalformal
The act of exposing oneself to prosecution by one's own statements
He invoked his right against self-incrimination and refused to answer.
- 43presumption of innocenceexpressionformaltechnical
The principle that an accused person is considered innocent until proven guilty
Trial by media erodes the presumption of innocence.
- 44burden of proofexpressionformaltechnical
The obligation to prove one's assertion in a legal proceeding
In a criminal trial, the burden of proof rests with the prosecution.
- 45circumstantial evidenceexpressiontechnicalformal
Evidence that implies a fact indirectly rather than proving it directly
The conviction rested entirely on circumstantial evidence, with no eyewitness.
- 46hearsaynountechnicalformal
Testimony based on what one heard from others rather than direct knowledge; generally inadmissible
The judge ruled the statement inadmissible as hearsay.
- 47corroborateverbformal
To confirm or give support to a statement or piece of evidence
Two independent witnesses corroborated her account of the night.
- 48recantverbformalliterary
To withdraw or formally retract a previous statement or testimony
The key witness recanted her testimony on the second day of the trial.
- 49under oathexpressionformal
Having sworn to tell the truth in a legal setting
He lied under oath, which is why they later charged him with perjury.
- 50pleanountechnicalformal
A defendant's formal statement of guilt or innocence in response to a charge
He entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.
- 51counselnounformaltechnical
A lawyer or team of lawyers conducting a case in court
Defence counsel rose to object to the question.
- 52coronernounneutraltechnical
An official who investigates deaths that are sudden, violent, or otherwise suspicious
The coroner recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.
- 53inquestnounformaltechnical
A judicial inquiry, especially into the cause of a sudden or violent death
The inquest concluded that the crash had been an accident.
- 54forensicadjectivetechnical
Relating to the use of scientific methods to investigate crime, or to courts of law
Forensic analysis of the fibres linked him directly to the scene.
- 55money launderingnounneutraltechnical
The process of concealing the illegal origin of money to make it appear legitimate
The casinos were used as a front for large-scale money laundering.
- 56abscondverbformal
To leave hurriedly and secretly, especially to escape custody or avoid prosecution
He absconded while out on bail and hasn't been seen since.
- 57extraditeverbformaltechnical
To hand over a suspect or convict to another jurisdiction where they are wanted
The court ruled that he could be extradited to face fraud charges abroad.
- 58obstruction of justiceexpressiontechnicalformal
The crime of interfering with the administration of the law or an investigation
Shredding the documents led to a charge of obstruction of justice.
- 59whistleblowernounneutral
A person who exposes illegal or unethical activity within an organisation
The fraud only came to light because a whistleblower contacted the regulator.
- 60mistrialnountechnicalformal
A trial rendered invalid through error or because the jury cannot agree
The judge declared a mistrial after the jury was found to have read press coverage.
- 61hung juryexpressionneutraltechnical
A jury that cannot reach the required agreement on a verdict
After four days of deliberation, the result was a hung jury.
- 62suspended sentenceexpressiontechnicalformal
A custodial sentence that is not enforced unless the offender commits a further offence
He received a two-year suspended sentence and walked free from court.
- 63habeas corpusnountechnicalformal
Legal principle and writ protecting against unlawful detention
His lawyers filed a writ of habeas corpus to force the state to justify his continued detention.
- 64prima facieadjectivetechnicalformal
Based on first impression; accepted as correct until proven otherwise
The prosecution established a prima facie case, so the trial proceeded.
- 65bailiffnounneutraltechnical
An officer who maintains order in a courtroom or enforces court orders
The bailiff escorted the jury back into the courtroom.
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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.