Crime — in plain language

Plain language

something you do that the government says is wrong and can punish you for — like going to jail, paying money, or both

• illegal act
• offense
• wrongdoing
• violation of the law

What to watch for

• Non-lawyers often think 'crime' only means violent acts like murder or robbery. Many crimes are non-violent (like tax evasion or embezzlement) and still count.
• 'Crime' and 'felony' are not the same thing. Felonies are serious crimes, but misdemeanors are also crimes. Both fall under the general category of crime.
• The phrase 'crime involving moral turpitude' is redundant to non-lawyers — 'moral turpitude' already means the crime was morally wrong. The plain-language version should explain what makes a crime 'of moral turpitude.'
• In contracts, 'crime' often specifically means 'felony or crime involving moral turpitude' — omitting this qualifier misleads readers about what conduct triggers consequences.

Crime vs. Civil Wrong. Crimes are different from civil wrongs (like breaking a contract or accidentally hurting someone). Crimes are offenses against society as a whole, prosecuted by the government. Civil wrongs are disputes between people or organizations. The punishment for crimes comes from the government (jail, fines paid to the government). Civil wrongs usually result in money paid to the person who was harmed.

What Makes a Crime "Moral Turpitude"? In contracts and employment documents, you'll often see "crime involving moral turpitude." This means crimes that are inherently dishonest or show a depraved attitude toward society — like fraud, theft, or perjury. It does not include all crimes (traffic violations usually don't count). When translating, specify what kind of crime is meant rather than using the legal phrase.

Common Misunderstandings by Non-Lawyers.

• "'Crime' only means violent things like murder or rape." (No — crimes include non-violent acts like tax evasion, embezzlement, or drug possession.)
• "If it's not a felony, it's not really a crime." (Wrong — misdemeanors are crimes too, just less serious ones.)
• "A crime has to involve a victim." (Not always — some crimes are against the government or society generally, like drug possession or tax evasion.)

Legal definition

Something you do that the government says is wrong and can punish you for. When you commit a crime, you break a law that society has decided should have serious consequences — like going to jail, paying money to the government, or both. Crimes can be violent (like assault) or non-violent (like stealing or lying to the government), but they all involve behavior that the law treats as a wrong against everyone, not just against one person.

Meanings by context

contract law: A serious crime that shows bad character or dishonesty, like fraud or theft, which can get you fired or let out of a contract.

Examples

Where you'll see it

• criminal statutes
• plea agreements
• sentencing memoranda
• employment contracts
• security clearance applications

Related terms

• felony
• misdemeanor
• moral turpitude
• offense
• violation
• tort

Word details

Pronunciation

krym

Part of speech

noun

Origin

Old French — from Latin 'crimen' meaning accusation or fault

Domains

criminal law, contract law, employment law

Frequency

very common

Formality

high