crime against nature: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-Frequency (technical/archaic legal)Formal, Legal, Archaic, Academic
Quick answer
What does “crime against nature” mean?
A legal term historically used for acts considered unnatural or violating the natural order, most often referring to sodomy or bestiality.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A legal term historically used for acts considered unnatural or violating the natural order, most often referring to sodomy or bestiality.
In modern critical discourse, it may refer to actions causing severe environmental harm (e.g., ecocide) or gross violations of natural ethical principles.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is archaic in the legal codes of both countries. Historically, British common law used 'buggery'. In the US, specific statutes used 'crime against nature'. Both have been repealed or superseded.
Connotations
Both carry strong negative, archaic, and moralistic/judgmental connotations. The American usage might be slightly more familiar due to its past inclusion in specific state laws.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use in both. Slightly more likely to be encountered in historical American legal documents than in modern British ones.
Grammar
How to Use “crime against nature” in a Sentence
be charged with a crime against naturecommit a crime against naturethe archaic law of crimes against natureVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crime against nature” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was prosecuted for a crime against nature.
- The old statutes criminalised crimes against nature.
American English
- The colonial law punished anyone committing a crime against nature.
- The defendant was indicted for a crime against nature.
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable; no standard adverbial form)
American English
- (Not applicable; no standard adverbial form)
adjective
British English
- The 'crime against nature' charge was a relic of a bygone era.
- They discussed crime-against-nature statutes.
American English
- The 'crime against nature' law was finally struck down.
- It was a classic crime-against-nature case in the legal history books.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, legal, gender/queer studies, and philosophical contexts to discuss obsolete moral/legal categories.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Would be considered highly archaic, formal, or offensive.
Technical
A defunct term in legal history; may appear in environmental ethics as a metaphor for ecocide.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crime against nature”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crime against nature”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crime against nature”
- Using it in modern conversation to mean 'environmental crime' without clarifying the metaphorical/rhetorical use.
- Assuming it is a current legal term.
- Confusing it with 'crime against humanity'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, laws explicitly using this phrase have been repealed or ruled unconstitutional in the UK, US, and other common law jurisdictions. Related acts may be covered under other, modern laws.
Not literally. In modern rhetorical or ethical discourse, people might metaphorically call severe environmental damage a 'crime against nature', but it is not a formal legal charge with that name.
'Crime against humanity' is a modern, active international legal category for large-scale atrocities against civilians. 'Crime against nature' is an archaic, primarily domestic legal term for specific 'unnatural' sexual acts.
It is based on the outdated and prejudicial concept that certain consensual sexual acts are 'unnatural'. Its use historically enforced discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and is considered offensive in that context.
A legal term historically used for acts considered unnatural or violating the natural order, most often referring to sodomy or bestiality.
Crime against nature is usually formal, legal, archaic, academic in register.
Crime against nature: in British English it is pronounced /kraɪm əˈɡenst ˈneɪtʃə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /kraɪm əˈɡenst ˈneɪtʃər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “An act against nature”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Crime' (illegal) + 'Against Nature' (violating natural order). Historically, this 'unnatural' box was used to outlaw specific sexual acts.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORALITY/LEGALITY IS NATURAL ORDER. Violating social/moral law is conceptualized as violating a law of nature.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'crime against nature' most accurately used today?