Crime & Law
Society · 200 words
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The words
200 words
- accomplice/əˈkɒm.plɪs/noun · B2A person who helps another commit a crime.
- acquit/əˈkwɪt/verb · B2+To declare in court that the accused is not guilty.
- acquittal/əˈkwɪtəl/noun · C1The court's declaration that the accused is not guilty and free.
- activist/ˈæk.tɪ.vɪst/noun · C1A person who fights publicly for a cause they believe in.
- affidavit/ˌæfɪˈdeɪvɪt/noun · C1A written statement sworn to be true.
- alibi/ˈæl.ə.baɪ/noun · B2+The proof that you were somewhere else when the crime happened.
- alibi witnessnoun · C1Someone who swears the accused was somewhere else.
- ambassador/æmˈbæs.ə.də(ɹ)/noun · B2A country's highest representative living in another country.
- amendment/əˈmɛndmənt/noun · C1An official change added to a law or constitution.
- amendment rightnoun · C1A freedom guaranteed by a change to a constitution.
- appeal/əˈpiːl/noun · B2Asking a higher court to change a decision you believe is wrong.
- appeal courtnoun · B2The higher court that reviews a decision already made.
- arbitration/ˌɑː.bɪˈtɹeɪ.ʃən/noun · C1Settling a dispute through a chosen judge, outside court.
- army/ˈɑː.mi/noun · A2All the soldiers of a country together.
- arrest/əˈɹɛst/verb · B1To take a suspected criminal away in handcuffs.
- arson/ˈɑɹsən/noun · B2+The crime of setting fire to a building on purpose.
- assault/əˈsɒlt/noun · B2The crime of physically attacking a person.
- asylum/əˈsaɪləm/noun · C1The protection a country grants to someone fleeing danger.
- autopsy/ˈɔː.tɒp.si/noun · B2The examination of a body to discover the cause of death.
- bail/beɪl/noun · B2Money paid so an accused person can stay free until their trial.
- ballot/ˈbælət/noun · C1The paper or process by which people cast their votes.
- barrister/ˈbæɹ.ɪst.ə(ɹ)/noun · B2+A lawyer who argues cases in the higher courts.
- blackmail/ˈblækˌmeɪl/noun · B2Demanding money by threatening to reveal someone's secret.
- breakoutnoun · B2+A dramatic escape from a locked prison.
- bribe/bɹaɪb/noun · B2Money paid secretly to make an official break the rules.
- bribery/ˈbɹaɪbəɹi/noun · C1Paying somebody secretly to abuse their position.
- burglar/ˈbɜːɡlə(ɹ)/noun · B1A criminal who breaks into homes to take what is inside.
- bylaw/ˈbaɪ.lɔː/noun · C1A local rule made by a council or an organisation.
- campaign/kæmˈpeɪn/noun · B1+An organized push, with speeches and posters, to win support.
- candidate/ˈkæn.dɪ.dət/noun · B1+A person competing to be chosen for a post or office.
- cell blocknoun · B2One wing of locked rooms inside a prison.
- citizenship/ˈsɪtɪzənʃɪp/noun · C1The legal status of belonging to a country, passport included.
- civil rightsnoun · B2The freedoms every citizen is entitled to.
- clause/klɔːz/noun · C1One numbered part of an agreement.
- clemency/ˈklɛ.mən.si/noun · C1Mercy shown by reducing a punishment.
- clue/kluː/noun · B1A small piece of information that helps solve a mystery — like the ones in this game.
- community servicenoun · B2Unpaid work ordered instead of a prison term.
- compensation/ˌkɒm.pənˈseɪ.ʃən/noun · C1Money given to balance a loss or an injury.
- confession/kənˈfɛʃən/noun · B1The moment a suspect admits they really did it.
- congress/ˈkɑŋɡɹəs/noun · B2The national law-making body of the United States.
- constitution/ˌkɒn.stɪˈtjuː.ʃ(ə)n/noun · C1The founding document that sets a country's deepest rules.
- contraband/ˈkɒn.tɹəˌbænd/noun · C1Goods it is illegal to own or move.
- contract lawnoun · B2The rules governing agreements between parties.
- convict/kənˈvɪkt/verb · C1To find somebody guilty of a crime.
- conviction/kənˈvɪkʃən/noun · B2A court's formal finding that a person is guilty.
- copyright/ˈkɑpiˌɹaɪt/noun · C1The exclusive right to copy and sell a creative work.
- coroner/ˈkɒ.ɹə.nə(ɹ)/noun · B2The official who investigates a sudden or unexplained death.
- corruption/kəˈɹʌpʃən/noun · C1Officials secretly selling their power for money.
- court/ˈkɔːt/noun · B1The formal room where a judge decides if someone broke the law.
- crime/kɹaɪm/noun · A2An action that breaks the law.
- crime scenenoun · B2The place where an offence happened, sealed for examination.
- criminal/ˈkɹɪm.ɪ.nəl/noun · A2A person who has broken the law.
- cross-examineverb · C1To question the other side's witness to test their story.
- culprit/ˈkʌlpɹɪt/noun · B2+The person who did the wrong thing.
- custody/ˈkʌstədiː/noun · B2Being held by the police; also, the legal care of a child.
- customs officernoun · B1The official who checks what you carry across a border.
- damages/ˈdæmɪd͡ʒɪz/noun · B2Money paid to make up for harm done.
- deed/diːd/noun · C1The legal paper proving who owns a property.
- defendant/dɪˈfɛnd.ənt/noun · B2The person on trial, defending themselves against the charge.
- democracy/dɪˈmɒk.ɹə.si/noun · B2The system where the people choose their own leaders by voting.
- deportation/diːˌpɔːˈteɪʃən/noun · B2+Forcing a foreign national to leave the country.
- detective/dɪˈtɛktɪv/noun · A2The investigator who follows clues to solve crimes.
- dictatorship/ˈdɪktæɪtəʃɪp/noun · B2+Rule by one person with total power and no elections.
- diplomat/ˈdɪp.lə.mæt/noun · C1The official who represents their country politely abroad.
- election/ɪˈlɛkʃ(ə)n/noun · B1+The day a whole country chooses its leaders.
- embezzlement/ˌɪmˈbɛzəlmənt/noun · C1Stealing money you were trusted to look after.
- evidence/ˈɛv.ɪ.dəns/noun · A2+The facts and objects that show what really happened.
- evidence bagnoun · B2The sealed bag that keeps a found item untampered.
- executor/ɪɡˈzɛkjʊtɚ/noun · C1The person who carries out the wishes in a will.
- extraditionnoun · C1Sending an accused person back to face trial abroad.
- felony/ˈfɛləni/noun · B2A serious crime carrying a heavy punishment.
- fine/ˈfaɪ̯n/noun · B1Money you must pay as punishment for breaking a rule.
- fingerprint/ˈfɪŋɡɚˌpɹɪnt/noun · B1+The unique pattern of ridges left by a fingertip.
- forensics/fəˈɹɛn.zɪks/noun · B2The science of examining traces left at a crime.
- forgery/ˈfɔː.dʒəɹ.ɪ/noun · B2+The crime of making fake documents, money, or signatures.
- fraud/ˈfɹɔːd/noun · B2The crime of tricking people out of their money.
- government/ˈɡʌv.ɚ(n).mənt/noun · A2The group of people who run a country.
- governor/ˈɡʌv(ə)nə/noun · B1The elected leader of a state or province.
- guilty/ˈɡɪl.ti/adjective · A2Having really done the crime — the opposite of innocent.
- handcuffs/ˈhændˌkʌfs/noun · B1The linked metal rings police lock around a prisoner's wrists.
- heist/haɪst/noun · B2A daring, carefully planned robbery of a bank or vault.
- homicide/ˈhɒm.ɪˌsaɪ̯d/noun · B2The killing of one person by another.
- hostage/ˈhɒs.tɪd͡ʒ/noun · B2A person held by criminals until their demands are met.
- illegal/ɪˈliːɡəl/adjective · B1Against the law.
- immunity dealnoun · C1An agreement not to prosecute in return for evidence.
- indictment/ɪnˈdaɪt.mənt/noun · C1The formal written charge that starts a serious trial.
- inheritance taxnoun · C1Money the state takes from what the dead leave behind.
- injunction/ɪnˈd͡ʒʌŋk.ʃən/noun · C1A court order stopping somebody doing something.
- innocent/ˈɪnəsənt/adjective · A2Having done nothing wrong.
- interrogation/ɪnˌteɹ.əˈɡeɪ.ʃən/noun · B2The long hard questioning of a suspect in a small room.
- judge/d͡ʒʌd͡ʒ/noun · B1The person in the black robe who leads a trial and gives the sentence.
- jurisdiction/d͡ʒʊɹɪsˈdɪkʃən/noun · C1The area or subject a court has power over.
- jury/ˈd͡ʒʊəɹi/noun · B2The twelve ordinary citizens who decide guilty or not guilty.
- jury dutynoun · B2The obligation to serve on the panel that decides a verdict.
- justice/ˈd͡ʒʌs.tɪs/noun · B1Fair treatment under the law — everyone getting what they deserve.
- juvenile/ˈd͡ʒuːvənaɪl/adjective · C1Involving a person too young to be treated as an adult.
- kidnap/ˈkɪdnæp/verb · B2To take a person away by force and demand money for them.
- king/ˈkɪŋ/noun · A2The man who rules a country because his father did before him.
- law/lɔː/noun · A2One of the official rules of a country that everyone must follow.
- law-abidingadjective · C1Living quietly within the rules.
- lawsuit/ˈlɔːˌs(j)uːt/noun · C1A formal fight between two sides taken to a judge.
- legal/ˈliː.ɡəl/adjective · B1Allowed by the law.
- legislation/ˌlɛd͡ʒɪˈsleɪʃən/noun · C1Laws taken together, as written and passed.
- libel/ˈlaɪbəl/noun · C1Damaging someone's reputation in writing.
- litigation/ˌlɪtɪˈɡeɪ̯ʃən/noun · C1The whole process of fighting a case in court.
- loophole/ˈluːphəʊl/noun · B2+The small gap in a rule that lets clever people slip around it.
- magistrate/ˈmæd͡ʒ.ɪˌstɹeɪt/noun · C1A local judge who hears smaller cases.
- manslaughter/ˈmænˌslɔːtə/noun · B2+Killing somebody without having planned to.
- mediation/ˌmiːdiˈeɪʃən/noun · C2Settling a dispute with a neutral helper in the room.
- minister/ˈmɪn.əˌstɚ/noun · B2A senior member of government in charge of one area, like health.
- misdemeanor/ˌmɪsdɪˈmiːnə(ɹ)/noun · C1A minor offence with a light punishment.
- monarchy/ˈmɒnəki/noun · B2+Rule by a royal family with a crown at its head.
- morgue/mɔːɡ/noun · B2The cold room where bodies are kept before burial.
- murder/ˈmɜːdə(ɹ)/noun · B1The worst crime — taking a person's life on purpose.
- negligence/ˈnɛɡlɪd͡ʒəns/noun · B2+Failing to take the care that a reasonable person would.
- notary/ˈnoʊtəɹi/noun · B2+An official who witnesses signatures on documents.
- offender/əˈfen.də(ɹ)/noun · B2A person who has broken the rules.
- overrule/ˌəʊ.vəˈɹuːl/verb · B2+To decide against a lower court or an objection.
- parliament/ˈpɑːləmənt/noun · B2+The elected assembly that debates and makes a country's laws.
- parole/pəˈɹəʊl/noun · B2Early release from prison on a promise of good behavior.
- patent/ˈpeɪtənt/noun · C1The exclusive right to make and sell an invention.
- patrol/pəˈtɹəʊl/noun · B1The regular round officers walk or drive to keep watch.
- peace/ˈpiːs/noun · A2The time when nobody is fighting.
- penitentiary/ˌpɛnɪˈtɛnʃəɹi/noun · C1A large prison for people serving long terms.
- perjury/ˈpɜː(ɹ)d͡ʒəɹi/noun · C1Lying under oath in court.
- pickpocket/ˈpɪkpɒkɪt/noun · B2+The thief who empties your pockets in a crowd unnoticed.
- plaintiff/ˈpleɪntɪf/noun · C1The person who brings a case to court against someone.
- plea/pliː/noun · B2The answer of guilty or not guilty given to a charge.
- police/pəˈliːs/noun · A1The people in uniform who protect everyone and catch criminals.
- policy/ˈpɒl.ə.si/noun · B1An official plan of action adopted by a government or company.
- politician/ˌpɒl.ɪˈtɪʃ.ən/noun · B1+A person whose career is in government and public promises.
- power of attorney/ˌpaʊə(r) əv əˈtɜː(r)niː/noun · C1Permission to sign and decide on somebody else's behalf.
- precedent/ˈpɹɛs.ɪ.dənt/noun · C1An earlier decision that later cases must follow.
- premeditatedadjective · C1Planned carefully in advance.
- president/ˈpɹɛz.ɪ.dənt/noun · A2The elected leader of a republic.
- prison/ˈpɹɪzn̩/noun · A2The locked building where criminals must live as punishment.
- prisoner/ˈpɹɪzənə/noun · B1A person locked up as punishment.
- probation officernoun · B2The official who supervises an offender released early.
- prosecute/ˈpɹɒsɪkjuːt/verb · C1To bring somebody to court and argue against them.
- prosecutor/ˈpɹɑ.səˌkjuːˌtəɹ/noun · B2The lawyer who argues that the accused is guilty.
- protest/ˈpɹəʊ.tɛst/noun · B1+A public gathering to show anger at something unfair.
- queen/kwiːn/noun · A2The woman who wears the crown of a country.
- raid/ɹeɪd/noun · B2A sudden surprise entry by police or soldiers.
- ransom/ˈɹæn.səm/noun · B2The money demanded for returning a kidnapped person.
- rebellion/ɹɪˈbɛl.i.ən/noun · B2An armed rising of people against their rulers.
- referendum/ˌɹɛfəˈɹɛndəm/noun · C1A vote where the whole people answers one big question directly.
- remand/ɹɪˈmɑːnd/noun · C1Being held in custody while waiting for trial.
- repeat offendernoun · B2Somebody who commits the same crime again and again.
- republic/ɹɪˈpʌb.lɪk/noun · B2A state whose head is elected, not born to a throne.
- restraining ordernoun · C1A court order to stay away from a person.
- revolution/ˌɹɛv.əˈluː.ʃən/noun · B2The complete overthrow of a system of power by the people.
- rights/ɹaɪts/noun · B1The freedoms every person is entitled to — to speak, to vote, to live safely.
- riot/ˈɹaɪ.ət/noun · B2A violent outburst by an angry crowd.
- royaltiesnoun · B2Payments an author or musician earns from each sale.
- rule/ɹuːl/noun · A1What you may and may not do in a game, school, or place.
- ruling/ˈɹuːlɪŋ/noun · C1The decision a judge hands down.
- sanction/ˈsæŋkʃən/noun · C1An official punishment one country puts on another, usually on trade.
- senate/ˈsɛnɪt/noun · B2The upper house of lawmakers in many countries.
- senator/ˈsɛn.ə.tə/noun · B2An elected member of the upper house of lawmakers.
- sentence/ˈsɛn.təns/noun · B2The punishment a judge gives — for example, five years locked up.
- sentencingnoun · B2+The stage where the punishment is decided.
- settlement/ˈsɛ.təl.mənt/noun · B2An agreement that ends a dispute without a full trial.
- shoplifternoun · B2Someone who steals goods from a shop.
- shopliftingnoun · B2+Secretly taking goods from a shop without paying.
- siren/ˈsaɪəɹən/noun · B1The loud rising-falling wail of an emergency vehicle.
- slander/ˈslɑːndə/noun · C1Spoken lies that damage a person's good name.
- smuggle/ˈsmʌɡəl/verb · B2To secretly carry forbidden things across a border.
- smugglingnoun · B2Moving goods across a border in secret to avoid duty.
- statute/ˈstatjuːt/noun · C1A written rule passed by a parliament.
- steal/stiːl/verb · A2To take something that is not yours, secretly and against the law.
- subpoena/sə(b)ˈpiː.nə/noun · C1An order telling you that you must appear in court.
- sue/sjuː/verb · B2To take somebody to court to claim money from them.
- summit/ˈsʌmɪt/noun · C1A meeting of world leaders; also, the very top of a mountain.
- suspect/ˈsʌspɛkt/noun · B1The person the police believe may have done the crime.
- swear inphrase · C1To make somebody promise formally to tell the truth.
- testimony/ˈtɛstɪmoʊni/noun · B2What a witness formally tells the court under oath.
- theft/θɛft/noun · B2The crime of taking what belongs to someone else.
- thief/ˈθiːf/noun · A2A person who takes what belongs to others.
- threaten/ˈθɹɛt.n̩/verb · B2To promise to hurt someone if they do not obey.
- trademark/ˈtɹeɪdmɑːk/noun · C1A name or symbol that only one company may use.
- treaty/ˈtɹiːti/noun · C1A formal signed agreement between countries.
- trespassingnoun · B2Entering private land you have no right to be on.
- trial/ˈtɹaɪəl/noun · B1The formal process in court that decides if the accused is guilty.
- tribunal/tɹaɪˈbjunəl/noun · C1A special court set up to judge one kind of dispute.
- undercover/ˌʌndə(ɹ)ˈkʌvə(ɹ)/adjective · B2Working in secret under a false identity, as some officers do.
- vandalism/ˈvændəlɪzm̩/noun · B2+The crime of destroying property just to destroy it.
- verdict/ˈvɜː.dɪkt/noun · B2The court's final answer — guilty or not guilty.
- victim/ˈvɪktɪm/noun · B1The person a crime or disaster happened to.
- visa fraudnoun · B2Lying on the papers that allow you to enter a country.
- vote/vəʊt/verb · B1To choose your leaders by marking a paper on election day.
- wanted/ˈwɒn.tɪd/adjective · B2Being searched for by the police — face on every poster.
- war/wɔː/noun · A2Armed fighting between countries.
- warden/ˈwɔːdən/noun · B2The official in charge of a prison.
- warrant/ˈwɒɹənt/noun · B2The judge's written permission police need to search or arrest.
- weapon/ˈwɛp.ən/noun · A2Anything made for fighting and hurting.
- whistleblowernoun · C1An insider who makes wrongdoing public.
- will/wɪl/noun · B2The paper saying who gets your things after you die.
- wiretap/ˈwaɪətæp/noun · B2+A secret device that listens to telephone calls.
- witness/ˈwɪt.nɪs/noun · B1A person who saw what happened and tells the court about it.
- witness standnoun · B2The place in court where a person gives their account.