actus reus

noun

ac·​tus re·​us
ˈak-təs-ˈrē-əs, ˈäk-tu̇s-ˈrā-u̇s
: the wrongful act that makes up the physical action of a crime see also crime compare mens rea

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, guilty deed

Dictionary Entries Near actus reus

Cite this Entry

“Actus reus.” Merriam-Webster.com Legal Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/legal/actus%20reus. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on actus reus

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!