criminal code: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Legal
Quick answer
What does “criminal code” mean?
A systematic collection of laws that define criminal offences and prescribe punishments.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A systematic collection of laws that define criminal offences and prescribe punishments.
In a broader sense, it can refer to the entire system of criminal law within a jurisdiction, including statutes, judicial decisions, and procedural rules, or sometimes used metaphorically to describe a set of unofficial rules within a group.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used identically in both varieties to refer to the statutory collection of criminal laws. In UK contexts, one might more commonly refer to specific Acts of Parliament (e.g., "the Theft Act 1968") alongside the term.
Connotations
Neutral, technical, authoritative.
Frequency
Higher frequency in legal, journalistic, and academic contexts than in everyday speech in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “criminal code” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] criminal code [VERB]Under/According to the criminal code, [CLAUSE]An offence/a violation of the criminal codeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “criminal code” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The act was criminalised by the new code.
- Parliament is debating whether to code that behaviour as criminal.
American English
- The behavior was criminalized under the federal code.
- The legislature moved to code the violation as a felony.
adverb
British English
- The act was defined criminal-code precisely.
American English
- The statute criminal-code specifically prohibits that action.
adjective
British English
- The criminal-code provisions were clear.
- It was a criminal-code offence.
American English
- The criminal-code section was cited in the indictment.
- They faced criminal-code penalties.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in compliance or regulatory discussions (e.g., 'The new anti-fraud provisions in the criminal code affect our reporting obligations.').
Academic
Common in law, criminology, political science, and sociology texts.
Everyday
Low frequency. Used in news reports about legal changes or high-profile trials.
Technical
Core term in legal drafting, court proceedings, and law enforcement.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “criminal code”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “criminal code”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “criminal code”
- Incorrect article: *a criminal code* (when referring to *the* specific code of a country). Confusing 'code' with programming code. Using plural for a single jurisdiction's set of laws: *The criminal codes of Canada is...*
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Criminal law' is the broader field. The 'criminal code' is typically the main written statute that forms the core of that law.
No. Some countries, like the UK, do not have a single, unified criminal code but instead have many separate Acts of Parliament. Countries like the US have both a federal criminal code and separate state codes.
Yes, it can describe a strict, unofficial set of rules within a group (e.g., 'the criminal code of the street forbids talking to the police').
Yes, but only when referring to the multiple distinct codes of different jurisdictions (e.g., 'comparing the criminal codes of France and Germany').
A systematic collection of laws that define criminal offences and prescribe punishments.
Criminal code is usually formal, legal in register.
Criminal code: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkrɪm.ɪ.nəl ˈkəʊd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkrɪm.ə.nəl ˈkoʊd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Metaphorical] He lived by his own criminal code.”
- “[Metaphorical] There's an unspoken criminal code among thieves.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CODE of rules, but for CRIMES.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAW IS A TOOL/FRAMEWORK (The criminal code is the framework society uses to define and contain harmful behaviour).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'criminal code' primarily?