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.

Crimes require what is known as “mens rea,” or an accompanying mental culpability.

From Encyclopedia.com

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

From Scientific American

“And yet this was a 9-0 ruling saying that the mens rea ― or the mental state of the doctor ― it matters.”

From Seattle Times

Desai likewise said that prosecutors would be bedeviled with "proof problems" relating to mens rea, or the state of mind protesters were in during the demonstrations.

From Salon

Under U.S. law, crimes such as fraud and conspiracy require proof of criminal intent - known as "mens rea," or a guilty mind.

From Reuters

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