How can I learn law & crime vocabulary in English?

The most effective way is spaced repetition: practice this deck of 56 flashcards using the Flashcards, Learn, Write, and Match modes. The system shows you each word right before you're about to forget it, so you retain it long-term instead of just memorizing it for a test.

How many words are in the law & crime vocabulary deck?

This deck has 56 cards at level B2, each with pronunciation audio and an example sentence.

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Law & Crime Vocabulary

Learn the English words for courts, trials, and crime: witness, evidence, verdict, defendant, and more.

B256 cards

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Flashcards

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Learn

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Write

Listen to the word and type it. Great for practicing spelling and pronunciation.

Match

Match the words against the clock. A fun, low-pressure way to review.

Terms in this deck

witness
a person who sees a crime or event happen
evidence
facts or objects presented in court to prove something
verdict
the official decision made by a jury or judge in a trial
lawsuit
a legal case brought to court by one person or company against another
suspect
a person believed to have committed a crime
sentence
the punishment given to someone found guilty of a crime
jury
a group of people who decide if someone is guilty or innocent
trial
the formal examination of a case in a court of law
defendant
the person accused of a crime in a court case
plaintiff
the person who brings a legal case against someone else
testify
to give evidence as a witness in court
innocent
not guilty of a crime
arrest
to take someone into police custody
crime
an illegal act punishable by law
criminal
a person who commits crimes
theft
the act of stealing something
robbery
stealing from a person or place using force or threats
burglary
illegally entering a building to steal something
fraud
deceiving someone for money or personal gain
bail
money paid to release a suspect before trial
custody
being held by police or legal authority
jail
a place where criminals are held
fine
money paid as a punishment for breaking a rule or law
appeal
a request for a higher court to review a decision
oath
a formal promise to tell the truth in court
plead guilty
to formally admit in court that you committed the crime
felony
a serious crime, usually punishable by a long prison sentence
misdemeanor
a minor crime, less serious than a felony
alibi
proof that someone was somewhere else when a crime happened
investigate
to carefully examine a crime to find out what happened
convict
to officially declare someone guilty of a crime
acquit
to officially declare someone not guilty of a crime
sue
to bring a lawsuit against someone
victim
a person who has been harmed by a crime
prosecutor
the lawyer who argues that the defendant is guilty
courtroom
the room where a trial takes place
probation
a period of supervision instead of prison, given to someone convicted of a crime
parole
early release from prison under supervised conditions
warrant
a legal document that authorizes an arrest or search
subpoena
a legal order requiring someone to appear in court
cross-examine
to question a witness called by the opposing side
hearing
an official meeting where a legal matter is heard by a judge
injunction
a court order that stops someone from doing something
damages
money awarded by a court to someone who was harmed
settle
to resolve a legal dispute without going to trial
litigation
the process of taking legal action through the courts
homicide
the killing of one person by another
assault
a physical attack on someone
vandalism
deliberately damaging property that isn't yours
shoplifting
stealing goods from a store
perjury
lying while under oath in court
bribery
giving money or favors to influence someone illegally
legislation
laws that have been passed by a government
human rights
basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person
self-defense
the right to protect yourself from harm
plea bargain
an agreement where a defendant pleads guilty for a lighter sentence

How to study this deck

This vocabulary appears in news, shows and movies about justice. Study by stage: the offense (crime, theft, robbery), the investigation (suspect, evidence, witness) and the trial (trial, jury, verdict, sentence). Watching a courtroom show in English with subtitles is a very effective way to reinforce it.

The trickiest words

sentence: in law it means a punishment; in grammar it means a sentence.
theft / robbery / burglary: theft is stealing in general, robbery involves violence or threat, and burglary is breaking into a building.
evidence: it is uncountable: "some evidence", not "an evidence".

Examples in context

The witness described what she saw.
The trial lasted three weeks.
The criminal was sent to prison.
He spent two years in jail.
He had a solid alibi for that night.
The courtroom was completely silent.
The court issued an injunction against the company.
She was caught shoplifting at the mall.

Mini dialogue

A: Who is the suspect?
B: A man who committed a robbery. There is a witness.
A: Is there enough evidence for the trial?
B: Yes. The jury will give a verdict tomorrow.