mal·um in se | \ ˈma-ləm-in-ˈsē, ˈmä-lu̇m-in-ˈsā \
plural mala in se\ ˈma-lə-, ˈmä- \
Legal Definition of malum in se
: 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) — compare malum prohibitum
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