Crossword Dictionary
crime
crime, offense, criminal offense, criminal offence, offence, law-breaking - n
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act; "a long record of crimes"
Crime, the intentional commission of an act usually deemed socially harmful or dangerous and specifically defined, prohibited, and punishable under criminal law. Crimes in the common-law tradition were originally defined primarily by judicial decision. Most common-law crimes are now codified. According to a generally accepted principle, nullum crimen sine lege, there can be no crime without a law. A crime generally consists of both conduct (the actus reus) and a concurrent state of mind (the mens rea). Criminal acts include arson, assault and battery, bribery, burglary, child abuse, counterfeiting, embezzlement, extortion, forgery, fraud, hijacking, homicide, kidnapping, perjury, piracy, rape, sedition, smuggling, treason, theft, and usury. See also arrest; conspiracy; criminology; felony and misdemeanour; indictment; rights of the accused; self-incrimination; sentence; statute of limitations; war crimes.
illegal
adjective
Contrary to or forbidden by law, especially criminal law.
SYNONYMS
unlawful, illicit, illegitimate, against the law, criminal, lawbreaking, felonious
EXAMPLES:
‘The report also raises concerns over the efforts to tackle illegal drug use in prison.’
‘If it cannot protect them from drugs then it should protect them from illegal drugs and gangsters.’
‘English law makes illegal a contract to indemnify a person in respect of liability for fraud.’
‘He thinks it will be difficult to prove it is his voice on the bootleg, illegal version.’
‘Further the use of cluster bombs as indiscriminate weapons is also illegal it is contended.’
‘The use of this illegal extension currently involves a form of religious gathering.’