premeditation

noun

pre·​med·​i·​ta·​tion (ˌ)prē-ˌme-də-ˈtā-shən 

: an act or instance of premeditating

specifically : consideration or planning of an act beforehand that shows intent to commit that act

Examples of premeditation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As the scuffle escalated, Banegas took out a Glock pistol and pulled the trigger, which Zaccor said was evidence of premeditation. —Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025

Did Brian Walshe prosecution prove premeditation? —Penny Kmitt, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025

Walshe has been charged with first degree murder, which requires premeditation, something that the defense is likely going to try to chip away at and disprove throughout the trial. —Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 4 Dec. 2025

Closing arguments centered on premeditation versus self-defense, per the outlet. —Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for premeditation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Legal Definition

premeditation

noun

pre·​med·​i·​ta·​tion pri-ˌme-də-ˈtā-shən 

: an act or instance of premeditating

specifically : consideration or planning of an act beforehand

designed so that it requires premeditation to tamper with it

murder in the first degree is the killing of a human being committed…intentionally and with premeditation

—Kansas Statutes Annotated

see also cold blood, murder compare intent

Note: The terms premeditation, malice aforethought, deliberate, and willful are often used in statutes either along with or instead of intent to describe the necessary mental state for a crime. In some jurisdictions the premeditation has to occur only moments before the act, while in others it must precede the act by an appreciable amount of time.