statutory offense

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Word: Statutory Offense

Definition: A statutory offense is a type of crime that is defined and created by specific laws made by a legislative body (like a government) rather than being based on common law or traditional practices. In simple terms, it's a crime that is written into law.

Usage Instructions:

• You would use the term "statutory offense" when discussing legal matters, especially when talking about crimes that are defined by laws rather than general legal principles.

Example:

• "Driving under the influence of alcohol is a statutory offense in many countries, meaning there are specific laws that make it illegal."

Advanced Usage:

• In legal discussions, you might hear about various statutory offenses, such as "statutory rape," which refers to engaging in sexual activity with a person who is below the legal age of consent as defined by law.

Word Variants:

• Statute: This is the law or formal rule that defines the offense.
• Offense: This refers to the act that breaks the law.

Different Meanings:

• The term "statutory" relates to laws or statutes, while "offense" generally means a violation or a crime. Together, they specifically refer to crimes defined by written laws.

Synonyms:

• Criminal offense
• Legal violation
• Statutory crime

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "statutory offense," you might encounter phrases in legal contexts such as: - "Breaking the law": This means committing a crime, which can include statutory offenses. - "Caught in the act": This phrase means being caught while committing a crime.

Summary:

A statutory offense is a crime defined specifically by laws created by legislative bodies.

Academic

Noun

1. crimes created by statutes and not by common law

Synonyms

• statutory offence
• regulatory offense
• regulatory offence