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

Although police initially pointed to an argument as part of the circumstances that led to the shooting, court records show premeditation is listed within the charges filed against Williams. —Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 27 Dec. 2024

The plotting and premeditation undercut the potential insanity argument, however. —Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 25 Dec. 2024

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

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.