malum in se

Meanings

nounmalum in se (plural mala in se)

literallyA wrong in itself; that which is injurious in its consequence.
lawThe Latin phrase used in law to refer to crimes that are illegal from the nature of crime, that is, inherently evil without any fact of being noticed or punished, as opposed to malum prohibitum. Used to develop common law crimes.

From Latin malum, the neuter of malus (“bad”) + in (“in”) + se, form of sui (“oneself, itself”).

More words from Latin

Cite this entry

APA

malum in se. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/malum%20in%20se

MLA

“malum in se.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/malum%20in%20se. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “malum in se,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/malum%20in%20se.