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arrest
verb [ T ]
UK /əˈrest/
1: verb [T] (CATCH)
If the police arrest someone, they take them away to ask them about a crime that they might have committed:
He was arrested when customs officers found drugs in his bag.
arrest someone for something The police arrested her for drinking and driving.
= capture, apprehend, nab
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2: verb [T] (STOP)
formal
to stop or interrupt the development of something:
The treatment has so far done little to arrest the spread of the cancer.
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3: verb [T] (MAKE NOTICE)
formal
to attract or catch someone's attention:
A photo of a small boy arrested my attention.
arrest
noun [ C or U ]
UK /əˈrest/
the act of arresting someone:
Two arrests were made, but the men were later released without charge.
under arrest If someone is under arrest, they have been arrested by the police:
She was stopped outside the shop and placed under arrest.
catch someone red-handed
UK /ˌredˈhæn.dɪd/
to find someone in the act of doing something illegal
Any driver who ignores a restriction is caught red-handed if a police officer happens to be in the road, and that driver can be stopped.
to take someone to court [kɔːt]
to take legal action against someone:
If the developers refuse to protect endangered species, we'll take them to court and we'll win.
illegal [ɪˈliː.ɡəl] / illicit [ɪˈlɪs.ɪt] / unlawful [ʌnˈlɔː.fəl]
something that is against the law
This will work to stop the poaching and illegal trafficking of animals.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has brought economic malaise to most sectors, the illicit economy is booming.
In contrast to an unlawful assembly, however, a riot involves violence.
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malaise
noun [ S or U ] formal
UK /məlˈeɪz/
a general feeling of being ill or having no energy, or an uncomfortable feeling that something is wrong, especially with society, and that you cannot change the situation:
They claim it is a symptom of a deeper and more general malaise in society.
malaise
noun [ S or U ] formal
UK /məlˈeɪz/
1: an indefinite feeling of debility or lack of health often indicative of or accompanying the onset of an illness
An infected person will feel a general malaise.
2: an uncomfortable feeling that something is wrong, especially with society, and that you cannot change the situation:
We were discussing the roots of the current economic malaise.
cynical
adjective disapproving
UK /ˈsɪn.ɪ.kəl/
1: believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity.
She has a pretty cynical view of men.
I've always been deeply cynical about politicians.
2: used to say that someone's feelings or emotions are used to your own advantage:
She works in the most cynical of industries - advertising.
He praises my cooking but it's just a cynical ploy to get me to make him dinner.
3: SPORTS UK specialized
not showing fairness or respect to an opposing player:
Most of my injuries have come from bad cynical tackles.
to commit a crime / carry out a crime
do something illegal or bad
He was arrested on one count of terrorism and another count of using a computer to commit a crime.
Many young black men believed officers discriminated against them, particularly by use of the 'sus' law under which anybody could be stopped and searched if officers merely suspected they might be planning to carry out a crime.
police brutality [bruːˈtæl.ə.ti]
unnecessary use of force by police against citizens, resulting in injury
The second issue, potentially more damaging to public order, was alleged army and police brutality against the women.
hostage
noun [ C ]
UK /ˈhɒs.tɪdʒ/
someone who is taken as a prisoner by an enemy in order to force the other people involved to do what the enemy wants:
be taken/held hostage She was taken/held hostage by the gunmen.
seize a hostage The terrorists have seized 20 hostages and are threatening to kill one a day unless their demands are met.
probation
noun [ U ]
UK /prəˈbeɪ.ʃən/
1: a period of time when a criminal must behave well and not commit any more crimes in order to avoid being sent to prison:
He served a year in prison and was then let out on probation.
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2: a period of time at the start of a new job when you are watched and tested to see if you are suitable for the job:
a period of probation
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3: US
a period of time during which a student who has not performed well must continue to have a particular grade point average in order to stay in school:
Gene's on probation this semester.
to bail someone out
to free someone who has been arrested and would otherwise remain in jail until the trial by providing an amount of money decided by the judge
He would have to pay $1,000 (£780) to bail her out (better than her getting shot, which could have easily happened to someone breaching the gates on any other day).
acquit
verb
UK /əˈkwɪt/
[ T often passive ] to decide officially in a law court that someone is not guilty of a particular crime:
acquit sb of sth She was acquitted of all the charges against her.
acquit someone on sth Five months ago he was acquitted on a shoplifting charge.
≠ convict (v)
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acquit yourself formal
to do better than expected in a difficult situation:
If Holmes acquits herself well in today's race, she may earn a place in the national team.
to be charged with a crime
to be accused of committing a certain crime
They weren’t called criminals, because criminals have to be charged with a crime.
assault
noun
UK /əˈsɒlt/
1: [ C or U ] a violent attack:
He was charged with sexual assault.
They launched an assault on the capital yesterday.
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2: [ C ] a determined or serious attempt to do something difficult:
Women's groups have demanded a nationwide assault on sexism in the workplace.
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assault and battery [ U ] LAW specialized
a threat to injure someone followed by a violent attack on them :
Six fans were charged with assault and battery in connection with last week's game.
murder
noun [ C or U ]
UK /ˈmɜː.dər/
the intentional killing of another person
The three were convicted of (= proved guilty of) murder.
assassination
noun [ C or U ]
UK /əˌsæs.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/
the murder of someone famous or important:
assassination attempt There was an assassination attempt on the foreign minister that year.
manslaughter
noun [ U ] LAW
UK /ˈmænˌslɔː.tər/
the crime of killing a person when the killer did not intend to do it or cannot be responsible for his or her actions:
He denies murder but admits manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
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diminish verb [ I or T ]
UK /dɪˈmɪn.ɪʃ/
to reduce or be reduced in size or importance:
We've seen our house diminish greatly/sharply/substantially in value over the last six months.
theft
noun [ C or U ]
UK /θeft/
taking another person's possession without their consent/permission (without person-to-person interaction)
Unfortunately, the police have dealt with the problem of car theft in a reactive rather than a proactive way.
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reactive adjective
UK /riˈæk.tɪv/
reacting to events or situations rather than acting first to change or prevent something:
They seem only capable of being negatively reactive to other people's suggestions.
robbery
noun [ C or U ]
UK /ˈrɒb.ər.i/
the unlawful taking of property from a person's immediate possession by force or intimidation (with person-to-person interaction)
The gang admitted they had committed four recent bank robberies.
burglary
breaking and entering a building with the intention of committing a crime
Several men were questioned by police yesterday about the burglary.
abduction [æbˈdʌk.ʃən] / kidnapping [ˈkɪd.næp.ɪŋ]
taking away a person against that person's will
The company director was abducted from his car by terrorists.
mugging
noun [ C or U ]
UK /ˈmʌɡ.ɪŋ/
an act of attacking someone and stealing their money:
Police are concerned that mugging is on the increase.
arson
noun [ U ]
UK /ˈɑː.sən/
(UK also fire-raising)
the crime of intentionally starting a fire in order to damage or destroy something, especially a building:
A cinema was burned out in north London last night. Police suspect arson.
traffic offences
breaking the rules of the road and driving
He was on bail for minor traffic offences and had had his bail extended by police despite failing to appear in court.
driving under the influence (DUI)
noun [ U ] US
also driving while intoxicated, UK
the crime of operating a motor vehicle while being affected by alcohol or other drugs:
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can be a serious offence.
smuggling
noun [ U ]
UK /ˈsmʌɡ.lɪŋ/
the act or process of taking things or people to or from a place secretly and often illegally. buôn lậu.
The murdered man is thought to have been involved in drug smuggling.
hijacking
noun
UK /ˈhaɪ.dʒæk.ɪŋ/
1: [ C or U ] (also hijack) the crime of using force or threats to take control of an aircraft, ship, car, etc., or an occasion when this happens:
The attacks included the hijacking of four planes.
The government adopted new measures to prevent hijackings.
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2: [ U ] disapproving: the act of taking control of or using something that does not belong to you for your own advantage, or an occasion when this happens:
The public won't stand for the hijacking of its public offices by corrupt politicians.
I had recently fixed a browser hijacking issue.
cybercrime
noun [ U ]
UK /ˈsaɪ.bə.kraɪm/
any criminal action perpetrated primarily through the use of a computer, such as hacking
The corporate battle against cybercrime is unending.
cybercriminal
noun [ C ]
hackers and other cybercriminals
child abuse
noun [ U ]
UK /ˈtʃaɪld əˌbjuːz/
physical or emotional mistreatment of a child
Why was the press so interested in child abuse after 1962?
vandalism
noun [ U ]
UK /ˈvæn.dəl.ɪ.zəm/
1: the crime of intentionally damaging property belonging to other people:
Beset by violence and vandalism, this is one of the most unpleasant areas in the city.
2: any activity that is considered to be damaging or destroying something that was good:
The advertising industry's use of classic songs is vandalism of popular culture, he said.
shoplifting
noun [ U ]
UK /ˈʃɒp.lɪf.tɪŋ/
the illegal act of taking goods from a shop without paying for them:
He was charged with shoplifting.
pickpocketing
noun [ U ]
UK /ˈpɪkˌpɒk.ɪ.tɪŋ/
the crime of stealing things out of people's pockets or bags, especially in a crowd
Reported robberies, from pickpocketing to muggings, have risen fivefold over the past decade.
drug trafficking [ˈtræf.ɪ.kɪŋ] / drug dealing
illegal production, transportation, sale, or purchase of drugs
While corruption and tax evasion are likely to be the biggest sources of illicit money, drug dealing, people trafficking and sanctions-busting are also common, police say.
forgery [ˈfɔː.dʒər.i] / counterfeiting [ˈkaʊntərˌfɪtɪŋ]
making, altering, or possessing anything false that is intentionally made to appear true in order to deceive
These banknotes are forgeries.
He increased his income by forgery.
allegations of counterfeiting and money laundering
the growing problem of counterfeiting and piracy
embezzlement
noun [ U ]
UK /ɪmˈbez.əl.mənt/
the crime of secretly taking money that is in your care or that belongs to an organization or business you work for. tham ô.
embezzlement of They were arrested for embezzlement of company funds.
He's accused of tax evasion, embezzlement, and fraud.
bribery
noun [ U ]
UK /ˈbraɪ.bər.i/
the practice of offering something (usually money) in order to gain an illicit advantage
The organization was rife with bribery and corruption.
Charges against the five men include bribery, extortion, and conspiracy.
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rife
adjective [ after verb ] formal
UK /raɪf/
If something unpleasant is rife, it is very common or happens a lot:
Dysentery and malaria are rife in the refugee camps.
blackmail
noun [ U ]
UK /ˈblæk.meɪl/
the act of getting money from people or forcing them to do something by threatening to tell a secret of theirs or to harm them:
If you are in a position of authority, any weakness leaves you open to blackmail.
rape
verb [ I or T ]
UK /reɪp/
forced sexual intercourse (against a person's will)
An alleged sexual predator is on trial for raping a young man.
lawyer [ˈlɔɪ.ər]/ attorney [əˈtɜː.ni]
a person whose job is to guide and assist people in matters relating to the law
All five boys were initially summoned for further questioning, according to their lawyer.
They paid a high-powered attorney to plead their case.
jury
noun [ C, + sing/pl verb ]
UK /ˈdʒʊə.ri/
a group of people who have been chosen to listen to all the facts in a trial in a law court and to decide if a person is guilty or not guilty, or if a claim has been proved:
members of the jury
The jury has/have been unable to return a verdict ([ˈvɜː.dɪkt] phán quyết) (= reach a decision).
Police officers aren't usually allowed to be/sit/serve on a jury.
judge
noun [ C ]
UK /dʒʌdʒ/
a person who is in charge of a trial in a court and decides how a person who is guilty of a crime should be punished, or who makes decisions on legal matters:
The judge reminded the witness that she was under oath (= having sworn to tell the truth, especially in a court of law).
The judge will pronounce the sentence on the defendant this afternoon.
suspect
noun [ C ]
UK /ˈsʌs.pekt/
the person who is suspected of a crime
Police have issued a photograph of the suspect.
The prime suspect in the case committed suicide.
prosecutor
noun [ C ]
UK /ˈprɒs.ɪ.kjuː.tər/
a legal official who accuses someone of committing a crime, especially in a law court. công tố viên.
The tape recordings provided prosecutors with the evidence they needed to prove he'd been involved in the conspiracy.
a public/state prosecutor
prosecution
noun
UK /ˌprɒs.ɪˈkjuː.ʃən/
[ C or U ]
the act of prosecuting someone:
A number of the cases have resulted in successful prosecution.
Doctors guilty of neglect are liable to prosecution (có thể bị truy tố).
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the prosecution [ S, + sing/pl verb ]
the lawyers in a court case who represent the side that accuses someone of committing a crime:
His plea of guilty to manslaughter was not accepted by the prosecution.
liable
adjective [ after verb ]
UK /ˈlaɪ.ə.bəl/
1: LAW specialized
having (legal) responsibility for something or someone:
The law holds parents liable if a child does not attend school.
If we lose the case we may be liable for (= have to pay) the costs of the whole trial.
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2: very likely to do something:
The areas of town near the river are liable to flooding (= are often flooded).
[ + to infinitive ] He's liable to make a fuss if you wake him.
defense
noun [ C/U ]
US /dɪˈfens/
the lawyer or lawyers whose job is to prove in court that a person did not commit a crime.
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The defense is the person or people in a court who have been accused of doing something wrong, and their lawyer:
[ U ] The defense rests (= This side has finished giving its argument).
defendant
noun [ C ] LAW specialized
UK /dɪˈfen.dənt/
the person in a trial who is accused of committing a crime, or who is being sued by another person
The jury concluded from the evidence that the defendant was innocent.
plaintiff
noun [ C ] LAW specialized
UK /ˈpleɪn.tɪf/
a person who brings a case against another in a court of law. người thưa kiện.
The plaintiff claimed damages for the financial losses suffered through a breach of copyright.
Judges in three states have sided with the plaintiffs.
= complainant.
spy
noun [ C ]
UK /spaɪ/
someone who tries to get secret information about another country, organization or person
His former colleagues have denounced him as a spy.
The organization had been penetrated by a spy.
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denounce
verb [ T ]
UK /dɪˈnaʊns/
1: [T] (CRITICIZE) to criticize something or someone strongly and publicly:
The government's economic policy has been denounced on all sides.
We must denounce injustice and oppression.
2: [T] (ACCUSE) to accuse someone publicly of being something that is bad or wrong:
His former colleagues have denounced him as a spy.
surveillance
noun [ U ]
UK /səˈveɪ.ləns/
the careful watching of a person or place, especially by the police or army, because of a crime that has happened or is expected:
The police have kept the nightclub under surveillance because of suspected illegal drug activity.
More banks are now installing surveillance cameras.
witness
noun [ C ]
UK /ˈwɪt.nəs/
a person who sees an event happening, especially a crime or an accident:
witness to The police are appealing (kêu gọi) for witnesses to the accident to come forward.
(eye) witness According to (eye) witnesses, the robbery was carried out by two teenage boys.
expert witness a person who is allowed to give their opinion in a law court because of their knowledge or practical experience of a particular subject:
A psychiatrist was called as an expert witness for the defence.
swindler
noun [ C ]
UK /ˈswɪn.dəl.ər/
someone who gets money dishonestly by deceiving or cheating people. kẻ lừa đảo.
He was a sophisticated swindler who had lured investors into something resembling a Ponzi scheme by misrepresenting his own background and expertise.
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sophisticated
adjective
UK /səˈfɪs.tɪ.keɪ.tɪd/
1: having a good understanding of the way people behave and/or a good knowledge of culture and fashion:
I don't think I have any books that would suit your sophisticated tastes.
2: intelligent or made in a complicated way and therefore able to do complicated tasks:
I think a more sophisticated approach is needed to solve this problem.
These are among the most sophisticated weapons in the world.
hit and run
noun [ C ]
UK /ˌhɪt ən ˈrʌn/
an accident in which a car driver hits someone and does not stop to help'
I would expect my employer to fire me if I was in a hit and run and fled the scene.
terrorist
noun [ C ]
UK /ˈter.ə.rɪst/
someone who uses violent action, or threats of violent action, for political purposes:
Several terrorists have been killed by their own bombs.
There has been an increase in terrorist attacks.
accomplice
noun [ C ]
UK /əˈkʌm.plɪs/
a person who helps another commit a crime
The thieves and two accomplices made away with over $25,000 in cash.
malpractice
noun [ U ]
UK /ˌmælˈpræk.tɪs/
failure to act correctly or legally when doing your job, often causing injury or loss:
They are accused of medical/financial/electoral malpractice.
ransom
noun [ C or U ]
UK /ˈræn.səm/
a large amount of money that is demanded in exchange for someone who has been taken prisoner, or sometimes for an animal:
ransom demand/note Family members said they received ransom demands/notes the day after the boy went missing.
demand a ransom for They demanded a huge ransom for the return of the little girl whom they had kidnapped.
hold someone/something to/for ransom The gang held the racehorse to/for ransom.
bail
noun
UK /beɪl/
[ U ] an amount of money that a person who has been accused of a crime pays to a law court so that they can be released until their trial. The payment is a way of making certain that the person will return to court for trial:
on bail He was out on bail awaiting trial.
be released on bail He was released on bail of $100,000.
free on bail He is free on bail and due back in court in October.
police bail She has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.
grant bail Because of a previous conviction, the judge refused to grant bail (= allow the accused person to be released).
misdemeanor / petty crime
noun [ C ] LAW US specialized
US /ˌmɪs.dɪˈmiː.nɚ/
a crime that is not considered to be very serious. (speeding, driving without a license)
= infraction ([ɪnˈfræk.ʃən] formal), infringement [ɪnˈfrɪndʒ.mənt], violation
felony
noun [ C or U ] LAW mainly US
UK /ˈfel.ə.ni/
(an example of) serious crime that can be punished by one or more years in prison:
a felony charge The first two violations may result in criminal misdemeanor charges, while the third violation can result in a felony charge.
handcuffs
UK /ˈhænd.kʌfs/ (informal cuffs)
1: noun [ plural ]": a pair of metal rings joined by a chain, used for holding the wrists of a prisoner together
a pair of handcuffs
in handcuffs She was taken to the police station in handcuffs.
2: verb [ T ] US /ˈhændˌkʌf/ (short form cuff)
On the plane, he was handcuffed to an FBI agent.
fingerprints
(informal: print) the pattern of curved lines on the end of a finger or thumb that is different in every person, or a mark left by this pattern:
His fingerprints were all over the gun.
take fingerprints The police have taken fingerprints from every man in the neighbourhood.
evidence / proof
the facts, signs or objects that make you believe that something is true
hearing
noun
UK /ˈhɪə.rɪŋ/
a meeting of a court of law (or official organization) to find out the facts about something
trial
[ C ] an official meeting that is held to collect the facts about an event or problem:
A disciplinary hearing will examine charges of serious professional misconduct against three surgeons.
(fair) hearing I think we should give him a (fair) hearing (= we should listen to what he wants to say).
lawsuit
noun [ C ]
UK /ˈlɔː.suːt/ /ˈlɔː.sjuːt/
a problem taken to a law court by an ordinary person or an organization rather than the police in order to obtain a legal decision. vụ kiện.
Two of the directors filed a lawsuit against their former employer.
(mainly UK) They brought a lawsuit against the company.
sentence
noun [ C ]
UK /ˈsen.təns/
a punishment given by a judge in court to a person or organization after they have been found guilty of doing something wrong:
He got a heavy/light sentence (= he was severely/not severely punished).
The offence carries a jail/prison/life/five-year sentence.
He was given a non-custodial/suspended sentence.
pronounce sentence on (of a judge) to say officially what a punishment will be:
The judge will pronounce sentence on the defendant this afternoon.
verdict
noun [ C ]
UK /ˈvɜː.dɪkt/
a decision that is made by a jury in court, stating if somebody is considered guilty of a crime or not
The jury reached/returned a unanimous verdict of (not) guilty.
Voters gave their verdict on the government's economic record last night by voting overwhelmingly for the opposition.
favorable verdict
positive verdict
However, he said, “It is hard to see the Supreme Court upholding a favorable verdict, if the case gets that far.”
adverse verdict
negative verdict
to appeal against a verdict
to protest a verdict; to apply to a higher court for a reversal of the decision
Moreover, Dow Chemical will almost certainly appeal against this week's verdict—and may have a good case.
judgement
a decision that is made by a judge in a court of law
life imprisonment
the punishment of being put in prison until death
death penalty (also known as 'capital punishment')
the legal punishment of death for a crime
to investigate a crime
to examine a crime, problem, statement, etc. carefully, especially to discover the truth
violent crime
crime which includes assault
organized crime
organized group of people commits crimes or engages in criminal enterprises for profit
white-collar crime
crimes committed by businessmen or office workers for financial gain
victimless crime
a legal offense (as prostitution or gambling) to which all participating parties have consented
to fight crime
to tackle crime
to deter / preclude crime
to prevent crime
a crackdown on crime
a serious attempt to punish people for committing crimes
life of crime
criminal way of living
a crime wave
a sudden increase in the amount of crime in an area
circumstances of the crime
conditions under which a crime was committed
in the light of evidence / in the face of evidence
considering the evidence
not a scrap of evidence
no evidence
to suspend a license
usually refers to a driver's license and means that your license is taken away for a period of time.
corporal punishment
physical punishment
prison sentence / custodial sentence / imprisonment
when someone is convicted and sent to spend a specified period of time in prison
a ban
sometimes a jury can impose a ban which means that you are prohibited from doing something
penalty / fine
an amount of money an offender must pay
community service
It refers to refers to unpaid work beneficial for the community. Sometimes a jury can decide to send a guilty person to perform this service
to rehabilitate
to bring (someone or something) back to a normal, healthy condition after an illness, injury, drug problem, etc.
antisocial behavior
behavior that either damages interpersonal relationships or is culturally undesirable
juvenile delinquency
the habitual committing of criminal acts or offenses by a young person, especially one below the age at which ordinary criminal prosecution is possible
law-abiding (citizen)
obeying the law; not doing anything that the law does not allow