legal Definition of malum in se
plural mala in se
\ˈma-lə-, ˈmä-\
: an offense that is evil or wrong from its own nature irrespective of statute
—often used with a preceding noun (as crime or act)
- held that burglary was a crime malum in se
- —State v. Stiffler, 788 P.2d 2205 (1990)
