corpus delicti
[ kawr-puh s di-lik-tahy ]
/ ˈkɔr pəs dɪˈlɪk taɪ /
noun, plural cor·po·ra de·lic·ti [kawr-per-uh di-lik-tahy] /ˈkɔr pər ə dɪˈlɪk taɪ/. Law.
the basic element or elements of a crime, as, in murder, the death of the murdered person; the body of facts or evidence showing that a crime has been committed.
the object, as the body of a murdered person, upon which a crime has been committed and that serves as evidence proving that the crime was committed.
Origin of corpus delicti
1825–35; < New Latin: “body of the offense”
Words nearby corpus delicti
British Dictionary definitions for corpus delicti
corpus delicti
/ (dɪˈlɪktaɪ) /
noun
law
the body of facts that constitute an offence
Word Origin for corpus delicti
New Latin, literally: the body of the crime