# abetment

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abetment
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

the act of helping someone else to commit a crime. It is not the same as doing the crime yourself, but you are still guilty of it.

For teachers: the act of encouraging, assisting, or aiding another person in the commission of a crime. Often used in legal contexts to describe secondary liability.

## Examples

- The lawyer argued that his client was not guilty of abetment.
- The witness provided evidence that the defendant was involved in the abetment of the robbery.
- In many jurisdictions, the legal definition of abetment includes not only direct encouragement but also the provision of tools or information that facilitates the commission of a felony.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.