criminal offense
Loading your saved state.
criminal offense
An act that violates a criminal law and can be punished by a court with a penalty.
Diebstahl ist eine Straftat und wird polizeilich verfolgt.
Theft is a criminal offense and is investigated by the police.
The word 'Straftat' (criminal offense) is made up of 'Strafe' (punishment) and 'Tat' (act/deed). So it describes an act that leads to a punishment.
Jede Straftat wird von der Polizei untersucht.
Every criminal offense is investigated by the police.
The most important verb used with 'Straftat' (criminal offense) is 'begehen' (to commit). Other common verbs are 'anzeigen' (to report to the police) and 'aufklären' (to solve).
Er wurde verurteilt, weil er eine schwere Straftat begangen hat.
He was convicted because he had committed a serious criminal offense.
'Straftat' (criminal offense) is a legal technical term, but it is also very common in everyday language, especially in the news and newspapers.
In den Nachrichten wurde über mehrere Straftaten in der Innenstadt berichtet.
The news reported on several criminal offenses in the city center.
To describe the severity of a 'Straftat' (criminal offense), the adjectives 'schwer' (serious) or 'geringfügig' (minor) are often used.
Mord ist eine sehr schwere Straftat.
Murder is a very serious criminal offense.
crime
'das Verbrechen' and 'die Straftat' both belong to the area of criminal law. A 'Straftat' is any act that violates criminal law and can be punished. 'Verbrechen' sounds more serious and is used especially for very serious criminal offenses. For that reason, not every 'Straftat' automatically feels like a 'Verbrechen' in everyday language. The words can be confused because both are illegal. If you want to speak precisely and in a legally neutral way, use 'Straftat'. If you want to emphasize the seriousness or shock, 'Verbrechen' fits better.
Auch das Fahren ohne Führerschein ist eine Straftat.
Driving without a license is also a criminal offense.
Der Raub in der Bank war ein schweres Verbrechen.
The robbery at the bank was a serious crime.