Unit 8

Word

Definition

Example

accuse

Charge someone with wrongdoing or a crime

They were accused of armed robbery and car theft

acquit

Declare someone not guilty of a crime

The defendants were acquitted and allowed to go free

arrest

Take someone into custody by law enforcement

The vandals were immediately arrested and taken to the police station

blackmail

Extort or demand money using threats or secrets

She tried to blackmail the celebrity by threatening to sell photos to the press

bribery

Offering money or incentives to influence

They got the contract by using bribery

burglary

Breaking into a building to commit a crime

The burglary was very upsetting for the people who lived there

catch

Seize or capture someone or something

The police were able to catch the criminals as they tried to escape

charge

Formally accuse someone of a crime

Two people were questioned by the police and charged with armed robbery

commit

Perform an act, often illegal or harmful

Two people committed a crime. They robbed a bank and stole a car

court

Legal tribunal where cases are heard and judged

The defendants appeared in court

drug dealing

Illegally selling or distributing drugs

Drug dealing involves selling any illegal drug

evidence

Information used to prove or disprove something

The jury of twelve people looked at and heard all the evidence

fraud

Deceptive or dishonest activity for gain

He committed fraud by using other people's identities

guilty

Responsible for a crime or offense

The jury decided that the defendant was guilty of the crime

hacking

Illegally gaining access to computer systems

Computer hacking can enable people to steal information

hijacking

Illegally seizing control of a vehicle or plane

The hijacking of the plane forced the airport to close

innocent

Not guilty of a crime or wrongdoing

The jury decided that the defendant was innocent

investigate

Examine or inquire into a situation or event

The police investigated the crime

judge

Presiding officer in a court of law

The judge decided what the punishment should be

jury

Group of citizens determining guilt or innocence

The jury of twelve people looked at and heard all the evidence

kidnapping

Abducting or unlawfully holding someone captive

The kidnapping was an attempt to get money from the wealthy family

mugging

Robbery involving violence or intimidation

The mugging happened on a busy city street at night

murder

Unlawful killing of another person

He went to prison for the murder of a woman

proof

Evidence or information establishing truth

There was no proof that the defendants had committed the crime

punishment

Penalty or consequence for wrongdoing

The judge decided what the punishment should be

question

Ask someone for information or clarification

The police questioned them for ten hours

rape

Forcible sexual intercourse without consent

Three women accused the man of rape and the case went to court

robbery

Stealing from a person using threat or force

Robbery usually is violent and involves a weapon

sentence

Legal punishment or penalty imposed by a court

The judge sentenced the criminals to ten years in prison

smuggling

Illegally moving goods across borders

Smuggling involves taking illegal products from one country to another

stalking

Persistent and unwanted pursuit of someone

Stalking can happen physically or on the internet

terrorism

Acts of violence for political or social aims

People debated whether the crime was an act of terrorism

theft

Act of stealing or taking another's property

The theft was very stressful for the victim

vandalism

Deliberate destruction of property

Some people say graffiti is art, but others say it is vandalism

verdict

Decision or judgment reached in a trial

The jury reached their verdict after two days

witness

Person who provides evidence in a court case

The witness told the court what they had seen

accurate

Correct, precise, or free from errors

The film review was quite accurate. It said the plot was poor but the acting was good, which was true

axe

Tool with a sharp blade for cutting wood

Thousands of jobs were axed by UK firms

back

Rear surface of something

The Prime Minister has backed the Chancellor in the latest scandal

biased

Having a prejudiced or unfair viewpoint

The news on this channel is really biased. They have a very strong political opinion

censored

Altered or suppressed to remove objectionable content

I think the report was censored. The newspaper wasn't allowed to publish all the details

clash

Violent confrontation or conflict

Ministers clash over new car tax proposal

commentator

Person providing commentary or analysis

A commentator is a person who describes a sports event on TV or radio while it's happening

critic

Person who evaluates and reviews something

A critic is a person who writes a review about the good and bad qualities of books

editor

Person responsible for editing content

An editor is a person in charge of a newspaper or magazine, or part of one, and decides what should be in it

freelance journalist

Independent journalist who sells their work

A freelance journalist writes articles for different papers and is not employed by any one paper

hit

A successful and popular thing or event

The stock market has been hit by oil price fears

objective

Neutral, impartial, and unbiased

I want to be objective and base my decision on facts, not feelings

paparazzi

Photographers pursuing celebrities for photos

The paparazzi follow famous people around to get photos of them to sell to newspapers and magazines

presenter

Person who introduces or hosts a program

A presenter introduces the different sections of a radio or TV programme

quit

Stop or resign from something

He quit his job because he wanted to go travelling

quiz

To ask someone a lot of question

The police quizzed the witness in the murder trial

reporter

Person who gathers and presents news

A reporter collects and reports news for newspapers, radio or TV

row

Heated argument or disagreement

They rowed over who should pay the restaurant bill

sensational

Provoking intense interest or excitement

The reporting in the paper was very sensational. It made the story seem more shocking than it really was

split

Divide or break into parts

The celebrity split from with his wife after her affair

vow

Solemnly promise or pledge

The social media star vowed she wouldn't disappoint her fans again