Word list on Crime and law
In English, there are a lot of specific words for different types of crimes and the criminals who
commit them. Unfortunately, the list of crimes and criminals is long! Because the words have
specific legal meanings, only a short, basic definition is given below. You may wish to download
and print out the list, and write the correct translation of the words in your own language. This
would give you the exact meaning.
CRIME DEFINITION CRIMINAL
taking someone away by force,
abduction demanding money for their safe return
setting fire to a building, cars or property
arson on purpose arsonist
assassination killing a famous person or public figure assassin
assault attacking someone physically assailant
marrying someone when you are already
bigamy married to another person bigamist
threatening to reveal someone’s secrets if
blackmail a lot of money is not paid blackmailer*
detonating an explosive device with the
bombing plan of harming people or property bomber
giving money or granting favors to
bribery influence another person’s decisions or briber*
behavior
breaking into a house in order to steal
burglary something burglar
treating a child badly in a physical,
child abuse emotional, or sexual way child abuser
behaving illegally and dishonestly;
corruption especially those in power
doing something illegal that can be
crime punished by law criminal
doing something illegal over the Internet cyber criminal
cybercrime or a computer system hacker**
domestic violence behaving violently inside the home
driving with too much alcohol in your
drunk driving blood drunk driver
stealing large amounts of money that you
embezzlement are responsible for, often over a period of embezzler
time
spying, to obtain political or military
espionage information spy
illegally copying documents, money, etc.
forgery to cheat people forger
getting money from people by cheating con artist
fraud them fraud
killing on purpose a large number of
genocide people, especially from a particular group
or area
taking control of a plane, train etc by
hijacking force, often to meet political demands hijacker
not stopping to help a person hurt in an
hit and run accident caused by you
homicide killing another person on purpose
being violent or aggressive on purpose;
hooliganism often used to describe youth hooligan
using someone else’s personal
identity theft information for one’s own gain
taking someone away by force, often
kidnapping demanding money for their safe return kidnapper
damaging someone’s reputation by
libel writing lies about them
taking things illegally and by force,
looting during a riot, war, etc. looter
killing someone without legal process,
lynching often by hanging, often by an angry mob
manslaughter killing someone by accident
attacking someone with a plan to rob
mugging them mugger
murder killing someone on purpose murderer
perjury lying in court, while under oath
stealing wallets, money, etc. from
pickpocketing people’s pockets in crowded places pickpocketer
stealing small quantities of goods over
pilfering time
poaching hunting illegally poacher
rape forcing someone to have sex rapist
causing a noisy, violent public
riot disturbance rioter
stealing large amounts of money with
robbery force or violence from a bank, store, etc. robber
shoplifting stealing something from a store shoplifter
damaging someone’s reputation by
slander speaking lies about them
taking things secretly in or out of a place,
smuggling country, jail, etc. smuggler
speeding driving above the speed limit
using violence, threats, or fear, usually for
terrorism political purposes terrorist
theft stealing, in general thief
trading something illegal like drugs,
trafficking people, etc.
betraying one’s country by helping its
treason enemies traitor
entering another person’s area; hurting
trespassing people/damaging property through force trespasser
destroying private or public property
vandalism purposely vandal
secretly watching naked people or sexual
voyeurism acts & getting sexually excited voyeur
