malum prohibitum
An action that is not inherently evil, but is nevertheless illegal only because…An action that is not inherently evil, but is nevertheless illegal only because prohibited, as opposed to malum in se. A malum prohibitum offense is something that is wrong only because a statute makes it so, or by consensus that society agrees to prohibit the act, and is typically regulatory in nature and often result in no direct injury or danger to the person, entity, or property but only merely create the danger or probability of it which the statute attempts to minimize. Used to develop consensual crimes.
Meaning
1 sensesAn action that is not inherently evil, but is nevertheless illegal only because prohibited, as opposed to malum in se. A malum prohibitum offense is something that is wrong only because a statute makes it so, or by consensus that society agrees to prohibit the act, and is typically regulatory in nature and often result in no direct injury or danger to the person, entity, or property but only merely create the danger or probability of it which the statute attempts to minimize. Used to develop consensual crimes.
Origin
From Latin directly. Literally translated as "wrong because prohibited", or "bad because aFrom Latin directly. Literally translated as "wrong because prohibited", or "bad because against the law".
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Forms
plural: mala prohibita| Singular | malum prohibitum |
|---|---|
| Plural | mala prohibita |
irregular · Lesson
Word family
2 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Plural nouns — Because its plural is irregular