See also law; punishment; theft.
abetment
the act of abetting or inciting another to commit a crime. —abettor, abetter, n.
bigamy
the condition of having two spouses simultaneously. —bigamist, n. —bigamous, adj.
contrabandism
the practice of smuggling. —contrabandist, n.
corruptionist
a person who practices or advocates corruption, especially in politics or public life.
criminology
the scientific study of crime and criminals. —criminologist, n. —criminologic, criminological, adj.
defalcation
1. unauthorized appropriation of money; embezzlement.
2. the sum embezzled.
depeculation
Obsolete, the act of stealing or embezzling.
disseizin, disseisin
the process of wrongfully or unlawfully dispossessing a person of his rightful real property.
embracery
the crime of attempting to influence or suborn a judge or jury by bribery, threats, etc.
extortionist
a person who practices the crime of extortion or the obtaining of money by threat of violence. Also extortioner.
fugitation
fleeing from justice, as by a criminal.
gangdom
the world of gangs or organized crime.
knavery
petty dishonesty or fraud. —knave, n. —knavish, adj.
malfeasance
wrongdoing or improper or dishonest conduct, especially by a person who holds public office or a position of trust. Cf. misfeasance. —malfeasant, adj.
malversation
fraudulent behavior, extortion, or corruption by a person who holds public office or a position of trust.
mayhem
Law. an intentional crippling, disfigurement, or mutilation of another.
miscreancy
criminal action or behavior; wrong- or evil-doing. —miscreant, n., adj.
misfeasance
a form of wrongdoing, especially the doing of something lawful in an unlawful way so that the rights of others are infringed. Cf. malfeasance. —misfeasor, n.
misprision
improper conduct or neglectful behavior, especially by a person who holds public office.
mouchardism
the practice of being a police spy. —mouchard, n.
peculation
embezzlement.
penitence
the state or condition of regretting crimes or offenses and being willing to atone for them. —penitent, n., adj.
penology
1. the science of the punishment of crime.
2. the science of the management of prisons. —penologist, n.
polygamy
the condition of having more than two spouses simultaneously. —polygamist, n. —polygamous, adj.
recidivism
a repeated relapsing into criminal or delinquent behavior. —recidivist, n. —recidivistic, recidivous, adj.
ropery
Archaic. roguish or criminal behavior or action; conduct deserving of hanging.
signalment
a detailed description of a person for purposes of identification by police.
skulduggery
underhanded, dishonest, or deceptive behavior or actions.
trigamy
the condition of having three spouses simultaneously. —trigamous, adj.
Whitefootism
the actions of an Irish secret society (circa 1832) whose members committed murders and other crimes. —Whitefoot, n.
