transferred intent

noun

The situation where, when the intention to harm one party inadvertently causes a second party to be harmed instead, the perpetrator is still held responsible.

Similar
transferred malice
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Meanings

nountransferred intent (uncountable)
  1. uncountablelawThe situation where, when the intention to harm one party inadvertently causes a second party to be harmed instead, the perpetrator is still held responsible.

    Synonyms: transferred malice

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe situation where, when the intention to harm one party inadvertently causes a second party to be harmed instead, the perpetrator is still held responsible.

Similar
transferred malice
Cite this entry
APA

transferred intent. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/transferred%20intent

MLA

“transferred intent.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/transferred%20intent. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “transferred intent,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/transferred%20intent.

Source: transferred intent on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.