die Straftat
criminal offense
An act that violates a criminal law and can be punished by a court with a penalty.
EXAMPLE
Diebstahl ist eine Straftat und wird polizeilich verfolgt.
Theft is a criminal offense and is investigated by the police.
die Straftat
criminal offense
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word composition
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.
EXAMPLE
Jede Straftat wird von der Polizei untersucht.
Every criminal offense is investigated by the police.
Typical verbs
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).
EXAMPLE
Er wurde verurteilt, weil er eine schwere Straftat begangen hat.
He was convicted because he had committed a serious criminal offense.
Register and style
'Straftat' (criminal offense) is a legal technical term, but it is also very common in everyday language, especially in the news and newspapers.
EXAMPLE
In den Nachrichten wurde über mehrere Straftaten in der Innenstadt berichtet.
The news reported on several criminal offenses in the city center.
Typical adjectives
To describe the severity of a 'Straftat' (criminal offense), the adjectives 'schwer' (serious) or 'geringfügig' (minor) are often used.
EXAMPLE
Mord ist eine sehr schwere Straftat.
Murder is a very serious criminal offense.
Compare with
Straftat vs Verbrechen
crime
Straftat is a neutral term for an act that violates a criminal law. Verbrechen refers to a serious criminal offense. Therefore, every Verbrechen is a Straftat, but not every Straftat is referred to as a Verbrechen.
Straftat
Auch der kleine Ladendiebstahl war eine Straftat.
Even the minor shoplifting offense was a criminal offense.
Verbrechen
Der Mord an dem Zeugen war ein schweres Verbrechen.
The murder of the witness was a serious crime.
In real life
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