premeditation

American  

[pri-med-i-tey-shuhn] / prɪˌmɛd ɪˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of premeditating.

2. Law. sufficient forethought to impute deliberation and intent to commit the act.

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premeditation British  

/ prɪˌmɛdɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. law prior resolve to do some act or to commit a crime

2. the act of premeditating

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Etymology

Origin of premeditation

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin praemeditātiōn- (stem of praemeditātiō ) a considering beforehand. See premeditate, -ion

Explanation

Premeditation is when you plan something ahead of time. A car thief's premeditation might include following a driver and noting where he typically parks his Mercedes. You're most likely to see the noun premeditation when someone's talking about crime. Almost any kind of crime or wrongdoing is considered worse, especially in a courtroom, if there's premeditation involved. An assault that's spontaneous isn't punished as harshly as one that involves premeditation, in which the attacker plans the assault before carrying it out. The Latin root, praemeditationem, combines prae, "before," and meditari, "to consider."

Example Sentences

Judge Dino Fulgoni agreed that Bardo, who waived a jury trial, had lain in wait, saying he may have had schizophrenia but his condition did not preclude premeditation.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2024

In “The Thing at Hand,” DiFranco embraces living completely in the moment, beyond identity or premeditation.

From New York Times • Mar. 29, 2024

"On the last occasion, he acted because of the pain she was under," he said, adding there was no premeditation.

From Reuters • Jun. 29, 2023

Elen Owen, prosecuting, told the court there was evidence of planning and premeditation by the group.

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2023

It was the kind of spontaneous game that developed in classes without premeditation, everyone falling into a sudden conspiracy.

From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier