aggravating circumstance

Main Entry: aggravating circumstance
Function: noun
: a circumstance relating to the commission of an act that increases the degree of liability or culpability aggravating circumstances —Schwertfeger v. Moorehouse, 569 So. Second 322 (1990)>; also : a circumstance (as lack of remorse) relating to an offense or defendant that receives consideration by the court esp. in imposing a death sentence —compare MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCE