English

Noun

actus reus ‎(plural actus rei)

1. (law) An act or series of acts, considered as separate from the intentions or state of mind of the perpetrator in the context of criminal law. [from 20th c.]
   • 2011, Steven Pinker, The Better Angels of Our Nature, Penguin 2012, page 610:

     A brute emotional reflex to the actus reus, the bad act (‘She killed her husband! Shame!’), could trigger an urge for retribution regardless of her intention.

See also

• mens rea

Translations