mens rea

American

[menz ree-uh] / ˈmɛnz ˈri ə /

noun

Law.

a criminal intent.

mens rea British

/ ˈmɛnz ˈreɪə /

noun

law a criminal intention or knowledge that an act is wrong. It is assumed to be an ingredient of all criminal offences although some minor statutory offences are punishable irrespective of it Compare actus reus

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of mens rea

First recorded in 1860–65, mens rea is from New Latin mēns rea

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

New findings may challenge traditional legal concepts such as mens rea, the "guilty mind" required to establish intent.

From Science Daily • Feb. 1, 2026

The latter, known as mens rea, is usually missing when dementia patients violate the law.

From Scientific American • Aug. 17, 2023

Chief Justice John G. Roberts explained in the Opinion of the Court that they did not prove mens rea, or the state of a "guilty mind" required for convictions in certain types of crimes.

From Salon • Nov. 2, 2020

And yet you can find many examples of courts accepting pleas to attempted reckless assault or attempted manslaughter, which carries a recklessness mens rea or mindset.

From Slate • Jun. 10, 2020

It is one of the earliest crimes in which the mens rea, or criminal intent, was taken special notice of.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6 "Armour Plates" to "Arundel, Earls of" by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023