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Glite Dictionary
actus reus

actus reus

9.9
An illegal physical action someone does rather than their thoughts
  • noun
  • /ˈæktəs ˈreɪəs/
  • Formal
translation icon : actus reus
  • In criminal law, the actus reus refers to the actual physical act that constitutes a crime.

Examples

  • "A failure to act can constitute the actus reus for accomplice liability if the defendant has the legal duty to intervene, but fails to do so."

    Fiction book (2001)

  • The court emphasized that the actus reus must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt to secure a conviction.

  • If a person causes harm, their actus reus must be clearly established to show criminal liability.

Synonyms

act
vsactus reus
∞ 1.0

Something a person does, for example a kind or brave deed

is limited to unlawful physical conduct that creates criminal liability
wrongdoing
vsactus reus
117 3.7

Bad actions that break the law or moral rules

focuses on the physical element that turns behaviour into a crime
perpetration
vsactus reus
2 8.0

An act of committing a crime or other bad action

is the physical unlawful conduct that legally constitutes the offense
wrongful conduct
vsactus reus
  • Formal
1 7.0

Actions that break the law or are unfair

is specifically the physical element that makes conduct a crime

Surface Forms

actus reus singular
actus reī singular

Morphology

actus + reus

Although 'actus' directly relates to the notion of an 'act', the phrase is a technical Latin legal term and 'reus' is not a common English word (and here is even listed as not found). A B1 learner who knows the literal constituents might guess a relation to 'act' but would not reliably derive the specific legal contrast with mens rea or the precise meaning without legal/Latin knowledge, so the relation is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Actus reus comes from Latin: actus means 'act' and reus means 'guilty'. Old lawyers used the phrase to point to the real, physical action, not a person's thoughts, so today actus reus means 'the physical act' that makes something a crime.