Crime & Justice

Crime, policing, courts, punishment, and investigation.

205 words

# Crime & Justice

**Type:** Topic
**Words:** 205

## About
Crime, policing, courts, punishment, and investigation.

## Words by Level

### A1
- pardon - Forgiveness for something wrong that someone has done.
- sentence - A group of words that expresses a complete thought, usually starting with a capital letter and ending with a full stop.
- loot - stolen goods

### A2
- case - A particular situation or example of something happening.
- police - The official organization, and its members, whose job is to keep order, prevent crime, and make sure people obey the law.
- murder - The crime of killing another person on purpose.
- evidence - Facts or signs that show whether something is true or real.
- crime - An act that breaks the law and can be punished.
- steal - To take something that belongs to someone else without permission.
- prison - A building where criminals are kept locked up as punishment.

### B1
- jail - A place where people are locked up, especially while awaiting trial or for minor crimes.
- victim - A person who is harmed, hurt, or killed by someone or something.
- arrest - To take someone to a police station because they may have broken the law.
- innocent - Not guilty of a crime or wrongdoing.
- guilty - Having done something wrong or broken the law.
- witness - To see something happen, especially an event or a crime.
- suspect - To think that something is probably true, often something bad.
- justice - Fair treatment of people, especially by the law.
- investigation - The careful examination of something in order to find out the facts.
- criminal - A person who has broken the law.
- finding - Something discovered as a result of research or investigation.
- punishment - Something unpleasant done to someone because they have done something wrong.
- theft - The crime of stealing something.
- accuse - To say that someone has done something wrong or illegal.
- outlaw - A criminal, especially one who is on the run from the law.
- inquiry - A question or request for information.
- warder - a guard responsible for prisoners, especially in older British usage
- fixer - someone who intervenes with authorities for a person in trouble (usually using underhand or illegal methods for a fee)

### B2
- trial - A legal process in court where evidence is examined to decide if someone is guilty of a crime.
- jury - A group of people chosen to listen to a court case and decide whether someone is guilty.
- squad - A small group of people working or trained together for a common purpose.
- rape - To force someone to have sex against their will.
- assault - To attack someone violently.
- confession - A statement admitting that you have done something wrong.
- testify - To give evidence in a court of law, usually under oath.
- testimony - A formal statement made by a witness in a court of law.
- fraud - The crime of deceiving people to gain money or an unfair advantage.
- conspiracy - A secret plan by a group of people to do something harmful or illegal.
- plead - To ask for something in a very emotional and urgent way.
- exhibit - To show something publicly, especially in a museum or gallery.
- burglary - The crime of breaking into a building in order to steal.
- accusation - A statement that someone has done something wrong or illegal.
- condemn - to say strongly that something is wrong or that you disapprove of it
- prosecute - To officially accuse someone of a crime and try them in court.
- imprisonment - The punishment of being kept in prison.
- piracy - The illegal copying or selling of films, music, software, or other protected work.
- inference - A conclusion you reach based on evidence or reasoning rather than direct information.
- burgle - To break into a building and steal things from it.
- eyewitness - a person who personally sees an event and can describe or testify about it
- culprit - a person responsible for a crime, wrongdoing, or problem
- defraud - to obtain money, property, or a legal right from someone by deception
- defendant - a person or organization accused of a crime in a court case
- probation - a court-ordered period in which an offender remains in the community under stated conditions instead of, or after, imprisonment
- bloodstain - a mark or discolored area left by blood on a surface or material
- vandalism - deliberate or reckless damage to public or private property

### C1
- cop - A police officer.
- accused - The person charged with a crime in a court of law.
- bail - Money paid so that an arrested person can be released until their trial, promising they will return to court.
- prosecutor - A lawyer who argues in court that an accused person is guilty of a crime.
- raid - A sudden surprise attack or visit, especially by police or soldiers, to make arrests or seize property.
- prosecution - The process of charging and trying someone for a crime in court.
- plea - An urgent, emotional request for help.
- conviction - A strong, firmly held belief or opinion.
- forensic - Relating to the use of science to investigate crimes and provide evidence in court.
- convict - To officially decide in a court of law that someone is guilty of a crime.
- inmate - A person kept in a prison or jail.
- detection - The act of noticing or discovering that something exists or has happened.
- dismissal - The act of removing someone from their job.
- implicate - To show that someone is involved in something wrong, especially a crime.
- fatality - A death caused by an accident, disaster, or violence.
- affidavit - A written statement that someone swears to be true, used as evidence in a court of law
- molest - sensitive: to touch or assault someone sexually without consent, especially a child
- captor - a person or group that captures and holds a person, animal, or place
- handcuff - a locking metal or plastic restraint placed around a wrist, usually used as one of a joined pair
- frisk - to search a person's clothing and body for concealed weapons, drugs, or other objects
- decapitate - to cut off or otherwise remove the head of a person, animal, or figure
- housebreaking - the crime of entering a house or other building unlawfully, typically with the intention of stealing
- thievery - the crime or practice of stealing things
- assassin - a person who deliberately murders someone, especially a prominent person in a planned surprise attack
- perjure - to knowingly make a false statement under oath and thereby commit perjury, usually used reflexively
- hangman - an executioner whose duty is to put condemned people to death by hanging
- conspirator - a person who joins others in a secret plan, especially one that is unlawful or harmful
- violator - a person or organization that infringes a law, rule, agreement, right, boundary, or another person's bodily autonomy
- complicity - involvement with others in a crime, wrongdoing, or harmful act
- torturer - a person who deliberately inflicts severe physical or mental pain, often to punish, intimidate, or obtain information
- premeditation - thought, planning, or deliberation before an action is carried out
- exonerate - to officially clear someone from blame, an accusation, or criminal responsibility
- six-shooter - a revolver with a cylinder designed to hold six cartridges
- vendetta - a prolonged and often violent feud in which a family, clan, or group seeks revenge for previous injuries or killings

### C2
- solitary - Alone; done or existing without others.
- penitentiary - used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers
- apprehend - To catch and arrest someone, especially a criminal.
- misdemeanor - A minor crime that is punished less severely than a serious one.
- punitive - Intended as punishment.
- ferocity - Extreme fierceness or violence.
- pugnacious - ready and able to resort to force or violence
- ringleader - a person who leads (especially in illicit activities)
- poacher - someone who hunts or fishes illegally on the property of another
- waylay - to wait for someone in order to attack them or stop them unexpectedly
- smuggle - to move goods or people secretly and illegally across a border or through controls
- brigand - an armed robber or outlaw, especially one belonging to a band
- behead - to cut off a person's or animal's head, especially as a form of execution
- assailant - a person who physically attacks another person
- fetter - a chain or shackle placed around the feet or legs to restrict movement
- connivance - secret or tacit approval of wrongdoing, especially by deliberately ignoring it
- corroboration - the act of confirming a statement or theory with independent evidence
- footmark - a mark or impression left by a foot or shoe on a surface
- bigamist - a person who marries someone while still legally married to another person
- housebreaker - a person who illegally enters a house, usually by force, in order to steal or commit another crime
- body snatcher - historical: a person who illegally removed recently buried corpses from graves, especially to sell them for anatomical dissection
- corroborative - serving to support, confirm, or strengthen a statement or conclusion with additional evidence
- truncheon - a short, thick club carried as a weapon by a police officer
- depredation - an act of plundering, pillaging, or violently seizing property
- marauder - a person or member of a group that roams about to raid, steal, or attack
- parricide - the killing of one's father, mother, or another close relative
- smuggler - a person who secretly and illegally carries goods or people into or out of a country or restricted area
- abductor - a person who unlawfully carries someone away and holds them captive
- shackle - a metal restraint for a wrist or ankle, usually one of a connected pair; figuratively, anything that severely restricts freedom
- guillotine - a machine for executing a person by dropping a heavy blade through the neck
- felon - a person who has committed or been convicted of a felony, especially in United States law
- filch - to steal something, especially a small or relatively low-value item, in a furtive way
- peculation - the embezzlement or fraudulent appropriation of money or property entrusted to one's care, especially public funds
- lynch - to kill someone without legal authority or a trial, especially by a mob and often by hanging
- blackmail - the crime or practice of demanding money or compliance by threatening to reveal a secret or damaging information
- trespasser - a person who enters or remains on another person's land or property without permission or legal right
- thug - a violent criminal or a person hired to intimidate or attack others
- malefactor - a person who commits a crime or other wrongful act; a criminal or evildoer
- mobster - a member of an organized criminal gang, especially the Mafia
- hooligan - a violent or destructive troublemaker, especially one acting as part of a group
- hornswoggle - to deceive or trick someone, especially in order to deprive them of money or property
- avenger - a person who punishes someone in return for a wrong or injury
- prisonhouse - a prison or the principal building of a prison
- perpetrator - a person who commits a crime, harmful act, or other wrongdoing
- thievish - inclined or given to stealing
- unjudged - not evaluated, decided, or subjected to a legal judgment or trial
- purloin - formal or humorous: to steal or wrongfully take something, often secretly or in breach of trust
- exculpate - formal: to clear a person from blame, guilt, or an accusation
- malversation - corrupt or dishonest conduct in a public office, trust, or administrative role
- amercement - historical law: a monetary penalty whose amount was set at the discretion of a court or lord
- forger - a person who fraudulently makes or alters documents, money, art, or other objects
- gibbet - historical: a gallows or similar framework used to hang a person or display an executed person's body
- embezzlement - the fraudulent theft or misappropriation of money or property entrusted to one's care
- defalcation - law: intentional or reckless misuse of money or property entrusted to one's care
- durance - literary or archaic: imprisonment or forced confinement, especially for a long time
- litigant - a person or organization that is a party to a lawsuit
- pickpocket - a thief who secretly steals from people's pockets or bags in public places
- swindler - a person who obtains money or property from others through deception or fraud
- aforethought - planned or considered in advance; premeditated, especially in the legal phrase 'malice aforethought'
- larcenous - inclined to steal, or involving theft
- cutpurse - historical: a thief who steals purses or valuables from people in public, especially by cutting a purse from its fastening
- footpad - historical: a robber who traveled and attacked people on foot rather than on horseback
- embezzle - to fraudulently take money or property that has been entrusted to one's care, especially from an employer or organization
- cracksman - dated or literary: a burglar, especially one skilled at breaking open safes
- posse - a group of people summoned by a law officer to help keep order or pursue a suspect
- incriminate - to provide evidence or information suggesting that someone is guilty of a crime or wrongdoing
- swag - informal: money or goods obtained by theft or other illegal activity
- reave - archaic or literary: to rob, plunder, or carry something away by force
- smouch - chiefly dialectal: to obtain something by stealing or trickery
- highwayman - historical: an armed robber, typically on horseback, who stopped and robbed travelers on public roads
- bushranger - historical Australian usage: an escaped convict or other outlaw who lived in the bush and survived by robbery
- headsman - historical: an executioner who puts condemned people to death by beheading
- pilferer - a person who steals small items or small amounts
- abduction - the act of taking a person away unlawfully by force or deception
- arson - malicious burning to destroy property
- gunman - a criminal armed with a gun, especially a professional killer.
- nobble - British informal: to bribe, persuade, intimidate, or otherwise secure improper influence over someone
- matricide - the killing of one's mother

### C2+
- sham - a fraud or pretence; fake; to feign
- delinquency - minor crime or a failure to meet an obligation
- justiciary - an officer who administers justice, or relating to the administration of justice
- nocent - harmful or injurious; guilty
- punition - the act of punishing; punishment
- castigation - severe criticism or punishment
- unjust - not fair or in accordance with justice
- chastisement - severe punishment or rebuke
- childlike - having the innocent or trusting qualities of a child
- committal - the act of consigning, as to prison, custody, or the grave
- dovelike - resembling a dove; gentle, innocent, or peaceable
- lenient - merciful or tolerant, especially in punishment
- abscond - to depart secretly and hurriedly, especially to avoid arrest or with stolen funds
- admissible - acceptable or allowable, especially as evidence in court
- bastille - a fortress or prison
- criminate - to accuse of or charge with a crime; to incriminate
- crimination - the act of accusing someone of a crime; an accusation
- damnation - condemnation to eternal punishment in hell
- exploratory - relating to or carried out for the purpose of investigation
- fraudful - full of fraud; deceitful or treacherous
- fraudulent - obtained, done, or characterized by deception or fraud
- inculpate - to accuse or incriminate; to show as guilty
- punitory - inflicting or intended as punishment
- sackless - innocent or guiltless; also dialectally feeble or simple-minded
- brutality - savage physical violence or cruelty
- crimeful - full of crime; guilty or criminal (archaic)
- detonate - to explode or cause to explode with sudden violence
- felonious - involving or constituting a serious crime; criminal
- imposure - an act of imposition or deception; a fraud or imposture
- indict - to formally charge someone with a serious crime
- inquisition - a prolonged or intensive, often harsh, questioning or investigation
- judicatory - relating to the administration of justice; a court or tribunal
- larceny - the unlawful taking of another's personal property; theft
- nefarious - wicked or criminal in the extreme
- nick - a small cut or notch; (informal) to steal or arrest
- snitcher - an informer who secretly reports another person's wrongdoing to the police or another authority
- safecracking - the practice of defeating a safe's or vault's security mechanisms in order to open it, especially illegally
- purloiner - a person who steals or takes something dishonestly

A1 (3)

A2 (7) Pro

B1 (18) Pro

B2 (27) Pro

C1 (34) Pro

C2 (78) Pro

C2+ (38) Pro

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