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

The jurors said the fact Moore fired seven rounds drove home premeditation. —Dan Morse, Baltimore Sun, 23 Nov. 2024

Second-degree murder is often defined as murder committed with malevolent intent but without premeditation. —Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024

He was charged with murder without premeditation and is being held in the Osceola County Jail on no bond, records show. —Natalia Jaramillo, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Dec. 2024

Key to that, according to jurors, were instructions given to them by the judge that described premeditation as an element of first-degree murder. —Dan Morse, Baltimore Sun, 23 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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.