Legal terminology · Responsibility & conduct
mens rea — Required mental state
mens rea means required mental state. Latin source words and legal terminology examples: Proving mens rea.
Meaning and source words
Meaning: Required mental state
- Latin: mens rea
Examples and word parts
Proving mens rea
Establishing the mental state required for an offense, such as intent or knowledge.
Word parts: mens (mind) + rea (guilty)
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Related responsibility & conduct terms
- actus reus — Prohibited conduct
The actus reus of an offense
- bona fide — In good faith
A bona fide transaction
- mala fide — In bad faith
A claim of mala fide conduct
- ultra vires — Beyond one's powers
An ultra vires act
- in loco parentis — In the place of a parent
Acting in loco parentis
- res ipsa loquitur — The thing speaks for itself
Invoking res ipsa loquitur
- respondeat superior — Let the superior answer
Liability under respondeat superior
- corpus delicti — The substance of an offense
Establishing the corpus delicti
Sources and usage
From the Word Radicals legal terminology collection. Source words and word parts are learning references; modern meanings can differ from their classical sources.