malum in se

noun

mal·​um in se

ˈma-ləm-in-ˈsē, ˈmä-lu̇m-in-ˈsā

plural mala in se

ˈma-lə-, ˈmä-

: an offense that is evil or wrong from its own nature irrespective of statute

—often used with a preceding noun (as crime or act)

held that burglary was a crime malum in se

—State v. Stiffler, 788 P.2d 2205 (1990)

compare malum prohibitum

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, offense in itself