premeditation

noun

pre·​med·​i·​ta·​tion (ˌ)prē-ˌme-də-ˈtā-shən 

: an act or instance of premeditating

specifically : consideration or planning of an act beforehand that shows intent to commit that act

Examples of premeditation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Second-degree murder is often defined as murder committed with malevolent intent but without premeditation. —Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024

He was charged with murder without premeditation and is being held in the Osceola County Jail on no bond, records show. —Natalia Jaramillo, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Dec. 2024

Key to that, according to jurors, were instructions given to them by the judge that described premeditation as an element of first-degree murder. —Dan Morse, Baltimore Sun, 23 Nov. 2024

For example, searches about how to commit a specific crime, how to hide evidence, or how to evade law enforcement can indicate premeditation. —Lars Daniel, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

premeditation

noun

pre·​med·​i·​ta·​tion pri-ˌme-də-ˈtā-shən 

: an act or instance of premeditating

specifically : consideration or planning of an act beforehand

designed so that it requires premeditation to tamper with it

murder in the first degree is the killing of a human being committed…intentionally and with premeditation

—Kansas Statutes Annotated

see also cold blood, murder compare intent

Note: The terms premeditation, malice aforethought, deliberate, and willful are often used in statutes either along with or instead of intent to describe the necessary mental state for a crime. In some jurisdictions the premeditation has to occur only moments before the act, while in others it must precede the act by an appreciable amount of time.