malum prohibitum

Main Entry: malum pro·hib·i·tum
Pronunciation: -prO-'hi-b&-t&m
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural mala pro·hib·i·ta /-'hi-b&-t&/
Etymology: New Latin, prohibited offense
: an offense prohibited by statute but not inherently evil or wrong malum prohibitum and, therefore, does not demand mens rea —Commonwealth v. Guthrie, 616 Atlantic Reporter, Second Series 1019 (1992)> —often used with a preceding noun (as crime or act) malum prohibitum> —compare MALUM IN SE