Definition

1. Noun:
   • A legal offense involving disruptive public behavior: "disturbance of the peace" refers to any act that disrupts public order, tranquility, or the quiet enjoyment of a community. It typically involves actions that are loud, violent, threatening, or otherwise interfere with the peace and quiet to which the public is entitled.

Usage

• This term is primarily used in a legal or formal context to describe a criminal charge or a civil wrong. It is often cited by law enforcement when someone's behavior unreasonably disturbs the public.
• It can be used to describe specific incidents, such as loud parties, fights in public, or other unruly conduct that breaches the peace.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The police were called to the apartment complex due to a disturbance of the peace caused by an excessively loud party.
  • He was arrested and charged with disturbance of the peace after starting a fight in the town square.

Advanced Usage

• "To cause/create a disturbance of the peace": This phrase is used to describe the action of committing this offense.
  • The protesters were warned not to cause a disturbance of the peace.
• In legal documents, it may be referred to formally as "breach of the peace," which is a closely related term.

Variants and Related Words

• Breach of the peace (n): A very similar legal term, often used interchangeably in many jurisdictions to describe acts that disturb public order.
• Disorderly conduct (n): A broader legal charge that can encompass disturbance of the peace among other offenses.
• Public nuisance (n): A related legal concept involving an act that inconveniences or annoys the public.

Synonyms

• Breach of the peace: Violation of public order.
• Public disturbance: An act causing disruption in a public setting.
• Disorderly behavior: Conduct that is unruly and disruptive.

Related Phrases

• Disturbing the peace: This is the verbal form often used to describe the action.
  • He was accused of disturbing the peace with his loud music late at night.

Noun

1. any act of molesting, interrupting, hindering, agitating, or arousing from a state of repose or otherwise depriving inhabitants of the peace and quiet to which they are entitled