mens rea

[ menz ree-uh ]
/ ˈmɛnz ˈri ə /

noun Law.

a criminal intent.

Origin of mens rea

First recorded in 1860–65, mens rea is from the New Latin word mēns rea

British Dictionary definitions for mens rea

mens rea
/ (ˈmɛnz ˈreɪə) /

noun

law a criminal intention or knowledge that an act is wrong. It is assumed to be an ingredient of all criminal offences although some minor statutory offences are punishable irrespective of it Compare actus reus

Word Origin for mens rea

Latin, literally: guilty mind