offense

A breach of law; a crime.

An offense may consist of a felony or a misdemeanor. The term is used to indicate a violation of public rights as opposed to private ones. For example, murder is an offense whereas libel is not.

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offense n. a crime or punishable violation of law of any type or magnitude. (See: crime)

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offense noun aggression, assault, attack, breach, breach of the law, breaking of the law, crime, criminal act, criminal deed, criminality, delict, delictum, delinquency, disobedience, encroachment, evil behavior, evil deed, felony, illegal act, illegal conduct, illegality, impropriety, infraction, infringement, injury, inobservance, lawbreaking, lawlessness, malefaction, malfeasance, malpractice, misconduct, misdeed, misdemeanor, misdoing, misfeasance, misprision, noncompliance, nonobservance, official misconduct, omission, outrage, pecability, peccatum, transgression, umbrage, unlawful act, violation, violation of law, violation of orders, wrong, wrongdoing, wrongfulness
Associated concepts: bailable offense, capital offense, charged with an offense, compound offense, continuing offense, degree of offense, grave offense, lesser offense, minor offense, offense against public decency, offense at common law, petty offense, prior offense, public offense
Foreign phrases: Peccata contra naturam sunt gravissima.Crimes against nature are the most heinous.

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See also: assault, crime, delict, delinquency, disrespect, exception, felony, foray, guilt, indiscretion, infraction, injury, injustice, misconduct, misdeed, misdemeanor, misdoing, misfeasance, misprision, objection, onset, provocation, resentment, transgression, umbrage, violation, wrong