# abetting

/əˈbɛtɪŋ/ (US) · /ɐbˈɛtɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

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

## Definition

to help someone do something illegal or wrong. You are not the person doing the crime, but you are giving them the tools or support they need to do it.

For teachers: to assist or encourage someone in the commission of a crime or wrongdoing. Often used in legal contexts to describe secondary liability for an offence.

## Examples

- He was arrested for abetting the robbery.
- The company was fined for abetting the illegal dumping of waste by providing the necessary equipment to the contractors.
- Legal scholars debate whether providing technical advice to a foreign government constitutes abetting if the recipient intends to use the information for hostile purposes.

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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.