premeditation

noun

pre·​med·​i·​ta·​tion (ˌ)prē-ˌme-də-ˈtā-shən 

: an act or instance of premeditating

specifically : consideration or planning of an act beforehand that shows intent to commit that act

Examples of premeditation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On Wednesday, Gupta’s manslaughter charge was amended to second-degree murder, a higher charge that effectively accuses her of intentionally killing her daughter without premeditation — marking the second time the state attorney’s office has changed her charge. —Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2025

From the point of view of the prosecutor, this put to rest the defense’s contention that the family’s murders were the result of an alter ego or depression, but clear evidence of premeditation. —Matthew Stolle, Twin Cities, 2 Aug. 2025

First-degree murder can require proof of premeditation and specific intent to kill in a criminal case. —Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2025

But that would require proof of intent and convincing a jury of premeditation. —Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 4 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for premeditation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Legal Definition

premeditation

noun

pre·​med·​i·​ta·​tion pri-ˌme-də-ˈtā-shən 

: an act or instance of premeditating

specifically : consideration or planning of an act beforehand

designed so that it requires premeditation to tamper with it

murder in the first degree is the killing of a human being committed…intentionally and with premeditation

—Kansas Statutes Annotated

see also cold blood, murder compare intent

Note: The terms premeditation, malice aforethought, deliberate, and willful are often used in statutes either along with or instead of intent to describe the necessary mental state for a crime. In some jurisdictions the premeditation has to occur only moments before the act, while in others it must precede the act by an appreciable amount of time.