Crime & Justice
Crime, policing, courts, punishment, and investigation.
206 words
Download MarkdownSome words in this topic are A2–C2 — part of Pro. A1 words are always free.
Go ProA1 (2)
A2 (7) Pro
police
A2
/pəˈliːs/
The official organization, and its members, whose job is to keep order, prevent crime, and make sure people obey the law.
M
S
case
A2
/keɪs/
A particular situation or example of something happening.
M
S
murder
A2
/ˈmɝ.dɚ/
The crime of killing another person on purpose.
M
S
evidence
A2
[ˈɛv.ɪ.ɾɪns]
Facts or signs that show whether something is true or real.
M
S
crime
A2
/ˈkraɪm/
An act that breaks the law and can be punished.
M
S
prison
A2
/ˈpɹɪzn̩/
A building where criminals are kept locked up as punishment.
M
S
steal
A2
/stiːl/
To take something that belongs to someone else without permission.
M
S
B1 (18) Pro
jail
B1
/d͡ʒeɪl/
A place where people are locked up, especially while awaiting trial or for minor crimes.
M
S
victim
B1
/ˈvɪktɪm/
A person who is harmed, hurt, or killed by someone or something.
M
S
arrest
B1
/əˈɹɛst/
To take someone to a police station because they may have broken the law.
M
S
innocent
B1
/ˈɪnəsənt/
Not guilty of a crime or wrongdoing.
M
S
guilty
B1
/ˈɡɪl.ti/
Having done something wrong or broken the law.
M
S
witness
B1
/ˈwɪt.nəs/
To see something happen, especially an event or a crime.
M
S
suspect
B1
/səˈspɛkt/
To think that something is probably true, often something bad.
M
S
justice
B1
/ˈd͡ʒɐs.tɪs/
Fair treatment of people, especially by the law.
M
S
investigation
B1
/ɪnˌvɛs.tɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/
The careful examination of something in order to find out the facts.
M
S
criminal
B1
/ˈkɹɪm.ə.nəl/
A person who has broken the law.
M
S
finding
B1
/ˈfaɪndɪŋ/
Something discovered as a result of research or investigation.
M
S
punishment
B1
/ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/
Something unpleasant done to someone because they have done something wrong.
M
S
theft
B1
/ˈθɛft/
The crime of stealing something.
M
S
accuse
B1
/əˈkjuz/
To say that someone has done something wrong or illegal.
M
S
inquiry
B1
/ɪnˈkwaɪ(ə)ɹi/
A question or request for information.
M
S
outlaw
B1
/ˈaʊt.lɔ/
A criminal, especially one who is on the run from the law.
M
S
fixer
B1
/ˈfɪksɝ/
someone who intervenes with authorities for a person in trouble (usually using underhand or illegal methods for a fee)
M
S
warder
B1
/ˈwɔɹdɚ/
a guard responsible for prisoners, especially in older British usage
M
S
B2 (28) Pro
trial
B2
/ˈtɹaɪəl/
A legal process in court where evidence is examined to decide if someone is guilty of a crime.
M
S
jury
B2
/ˈd͡ʒʊɹi/
A group of people chosen to listen to a court case and decide whether someone is guilty.
M
S
squad
B2
/ˈskwɑd/
A small group of people working or trained together for a common purpose.
M
S
rape
B2
/ˈɹæɪ̯p/
To force someone to have sex against their will.
M
S
assault
B2
/əˈsɔlt/
To attack someone violently.
M
S
confession
B2
/kənˈfɛʃən/
A statement admitting that you have done something wrong.
M
S
defendant
B2
/dɪˈfɛndənt/
a person or organization accused of a crime in a court case
M
S
testify
B2
/ˈtɛstɪfaɪ/
To give evidence in a court of law, usually under oath.
M
S
testimony
B2
/ˈtɛstɪmoʊni/
A formal statement made by a witness in a court of law.
M
S
fraud
B2
/fɹɔd/
The crime of deceiving people to gain money or an unfair advantage.
M
S
conspiracy
B2
/kənˈspəɹəsi/
A secret plan by a group of people to do something harmful or illegal.
M
S
plead
B2
/pliːd/
To ask for something in a very emotional and urgent way.
M
S
exhibit
B2
/ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/
To show something publicly, especially in a museum or gallery.
M
S
probation
B2
/proʊˈbeɪ.ʃən/
a court-ordered period in which an offender remains in the community under stated conditions instead of, or after, imprisonment
M
S
culprit
B2
/ˈkʌl.prɪt/
a person responsible for a crime, wrongdoing, or problem
M
S
burglary
B2
/ˈbɝ.ɡlɚ.i/
The crime of breaking into a building in order to steal.
M
S
loot
B2
/luːt/
money or goods stolen during a robbery, war, or period of disorder
M
S
accusation
B2
/ək.jʊˈze.ʃən/
A statement that someone has done something wrong or illegal.
M
S
eyewitness
B2
/ˈaɪˌwɪt.nəs/
a person who personally sees an event and can describe or testify about it
M
S
condemn
B2
/kənˈdɛm/
to say strongly that something is wrong or that you disapprove of it
M
S
prosecute
B2
/ˈpɹɒsɪkjuːt/
To officially accuse someone of a crime and try them in court.
M
S
imprisonment
B2
/ˌɪmˈprɪzənmənt/
The punishment of being kept in prison.
M
S
vandalism
B2
/ˈvændəˌlɪzəm/
deliberate or reckless damage to public or private property
M
S
piracy
B2
/ˈpaɪɹəsi/
The illegal copying or selling of films, music, software, or other protected work.
M
S
C1 (34) Pro
cop
C1
/kɑp/
A police officer.
M
S
accused
C1
/əˈkjuzd/
The person charged with a crime in a court of law.
M
S
bail
C1
/beɪl/
Money paid so that an arrested person can be released until their trial, promising they will return to court.
M
S
prosecutor
C1
/ˈpɹɑ.səˌkjuːˌtəɹ/
A lawyer who argues in court that an accused person is guilty of a crime.
M
S
raid
C1
/ɹeɪd/
A sudden surprise attack or visit, especially by police or soldiers, to make arrests or seize property.
M
S
prosecution
C1
/ˌpɹɑ.sɪˈkju.ʃən/
The process of charging and trying someone for a crime in court.
M
S
assassin
C1
/əˈsæs.ən/
a person who deliberately murders someone, especially a prominent person in a planned surprise attack
M
S
plea
C1
/pliː/
An urgent, emotional request for help.
M
S
conviction
C1
/kənˈvɪk.ʃən/
A strong, firmly held belief or opinion.
M
S
forensic
C1
/fəˈɹɛn.zɪk/
Relating to the use of science to investigate crimes and provide evidence in court.
M
S
convict
C1
/kənˈvɪkt/
To officially decide in a court of law that someone is guilty of a crime.
M
S
inmate
C1
/ˈɪnˌmeɪt/
A person kept in a prison or jail.
M
S
detection
C1
/dɪˈtek.ʃən/
The act of noticing or discovering that something exists or has happened.
M
S
vendetta
C1
/vɛnˈdɛt.ə/
a prolonged and often violent feud in which a family, clan, or group seeks revenge for previous injuries or killings
M
S
dismissal
C1
/dɪˈsmɪsəl/
The act of removing someone from their job.
M
S
handcuff
C1
/ˈhænd.kʌf/
a locking metal or plastic restraint placed around a wrist, usually used as one of a joined pair
M
S
hangman
C1
/ˈhæŋˌmæn/
an executioner whose duty is to put condemned people to death by hanging
M
S
implicate
C1
/ˈɪmplɪkeɪt/
To show that someone is involved in something wrong, especially a crime.
M
S
frisk
C1
/frɪsk/
to search a person's clothing and body for concealed weapons, drugs, or other objects
M
S
complicity
C1
/kəmˈplɪsəti/
involvement with others in a crime, wrongdoing, or harmful act
M
S
molest
C1
/məˈlest/
sensitive: to touch or assault someone sexually without consent, especially a child
M
S
fatality
C1
/feɪˈtælɪti/
A death caused by an accident, disaster, or violence.
M
S
exonerate
C1
/ɪɡˈzɑnəˌreɪt/
to officially clear someone from blame, an accusation, or criminal responsibility
M
S
torturer
C1
/ˈtɔrtʃərɚ/
a person who deliberately inflicts severe physical or mental pain, often to punish, intimidate, or obtain information
M
S
C2 (79) Pro
blackmail
C2
/ˈblæk.meɪl/
the crime or practice of demanding money or compliance by threatening to reveal a secret or damaging information
M
S
solitary
C2
/ˈsɑlɪˌtɛɹi/
Alone; done or existing without others.
M
S
thug
C2
/θʌɡ/
a violent criminal or a person hired to intimidate or attack others
M
S
abduction
C2
/æbˈdʌk.ʃn̩/
the act of taking a person away unlawfully by force or deception
M
S
arson
C2
/ˈɑɹsən/
malicious burning to destroy property
M
S
lynch
C2
/lɪnt͡ʃ/
to kill someone without legal authority or a trial, especially by a mob and often by hanging
M
S
posse
C2
/ˈpɑːsi/
a group of people summoned by a law officer to help keep order or pursue a suspect
M
S
smuggle
C2
/ˈsmʌɡəl/
to move goods or people secretly and illegally across a border or through controls
M
S
perpetrator
C2
/ˈpɝpəˌtɹeɪtɚ/
a person who commits a crime, harmful act, or other wrongdoing
M
S
gunman
C2
/ˈɡʌnmən/
a criminal armed with a gun, especially a professional killer.
M
S
penitentiary
C2
/ˌpɛnɪˈtɛnʃəɹi/
used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers
M
S
assailant
C2
/əˈseɪlənt/
a person who physically attacks another person
M
S
felon
C2
/ˈfɛl.ən/
a person who has committed or been convicted of a felony, especially in United States law
M
S
smuggler
C2
/ˈsmʌɡlɚ/
a person who secretly and illegally carries goods or people into or out of a country or restricted area
M
S
guillotine
C2
/ˈɡɪl.ə.tiːn/
a machine for executing a person by dropping a heavy blade through the neck
M
S
apprehend
C2
/ˌæpɹɪˈhend/
To catch and arrest someone, especially a criminal.
M
S
avenger
C2
/əˈvɛndʒɚ/
a person who punishes someone in return for a wrong or injury
M
S
misdemeanor
C2
/ˌmɪsdəˈmiːnɝ/
A minor crime that is punished less severely than a serious one.
M
S
incriminate
C2
/ɪnˈkrɪm.ə.neɪt/
to provide evidence or information suggesting that someone is guilty of a crime or wrongdoing
M
S
swindler
C2
/ˈswɪndəlɚ/
a person who obtains money or property from others through deception or fraud
M
S
embezzlement
C2
/ɪmˈbɛzəlmənt/
the fraudulent theft or misappropriation of money or property entrusted to one's care
M
S
swag
C2
/swæɡ/
informal: money or goods obtained by theft or other illegal activity
M
S
pickpocket
C2
/ˈpɪkˌpɑːkət/
a thief who secretly steals from people's pockets or bags in public places
M
S
hooligan
C2
/ˈhuː.lɪ.ɡən/
a violent or destructive troublemaker, especially one acting as part of a group
M
S
C2+ (38) Pro
safecracking
C2+
/ˈseɪfˌkræk.ɪŋ/
the practice of defeating a safe's or vault's security mechanisms in order to open it, especially illegally
M
S
snitcher
C2+
/ˈsnɪtʃɚ/
an informer who secretly reports another person's wrongdoing to the police or another authority
M
S
purloiner
C2+
/pərˈlɔɪnər/
a person who steals or takes something dishonestly
M
S
sham
C2+
/ʃæm/
a fraud or pretence; fake; to feign
M
S
delinquency
C2+
/dɪˈlɪŋkwənsi/
minor crime or a failure to meet an obligation
M
S
justiciary
C2+
/dʒʌˈstɪʃiˌɛri/
an officer who administers justice, or relating to the administration of justice
M
S
nocent
C2+
/ˈnoʊsənt/
harmful or injurious; guilty
M
S
punition
C2+
/pjuˈnɪʃən/
the act of punishing; punishment
M
S
castigation
C2+
/ˌkæstɪˈɡeɪʃən/
severe criticism or punishment
M
S
unjust
C2+
/ʌnˈdʒʌst/
not fair or in accordance with justice
M
S
chastisement
C2+
/ˈtʃæstəzmənt/
severe punishment or rebuke
M
S
childlike
C2+
/ˈtʃaɪldˌlaɪk/
having the innocent or trusting qualities of a child
M
S
committal
C2+
/kəˈmɪtəl/
the act of consigning, as to prison, custody, or the grave
M
S
dovelike
C2+
/ˈdʌvlaɪk/
resembling a dove; gentle, innocent, or peaceable
M
S
lenient
C2+
/ˈliniənt/
merciful or tolerant, especially in punishment
M
S
abscond
C2+
/əbˈskɑnd/
to depart secretly and hurriedly, especially to avoid arrest or with stolen funds
M
S
admissible
C2+
/ædˈmɪsəbəl/
acceptable or allowable, especially as evidence in court
M
S
bastille
C2+
/bæˈstil/
a fortress or prison
M
S
criminate
C2+
/ˈkrɪməˌneɪt/
to accuse of or charge with a crime; to incriminate
M
S
crimination
C2+
/ˌkrɪməˈneɪʃən/
the act of accusing someone of a crime; an accusation
M
S
damnation
C2+
/dæmˈneɪʃən/
condemnation to eternal punishment in hell
M
S
exploratory
C2+
/ɪkˈsplɔrətɔri/
relating to or carried out for the purpose of investigation
M
S
fraudful
C2+
/ˈfrɔdfəl/
full of fraud; deceitful or treacherous
M
S
fraudulent
C2+
/ˈfrɔdʒələnt/
obtained, done, or characterized by deception or fraud
M
S
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