In common legal practice, the terms crime and offence are often used interchangeably as synonyms.1 Both refer to an act or omission that violates a public law and is subject to punishment.
However, in some jurisdictions or contexts, a subtle distinction is made regarding the severity and classification of the violation.2
1. Interchangeable Use (Most Common)
In most everyday and many legal settings, the two words mean the same thing: a violation of criminal law.
- Crime (or Criminal Offence): An unlawful act punishable by the state.3 This is the broadest and most commonly used term.
- Examples: Murder, theft, assault, fraud.4
2. Distinction by Severity (Less Common, but Specific)
In some legal classifications, particularly those that use the term “offence” to cover all violations of law (criminal and non-criminal), a distinction is made based on seriousness:5
| Feature | Crime (Criminal Offence) | Offence (General Term/Minor Violation) |
| Severity | Usually refers to the most serious violations of the law. | Can be a broader term that includes minor crimes (like misdemeanors). |
| Examples | Felonies (Murder, Robbery). | Infractions, petty offences, or summary offences (e.g., minor traffic violations, littering, jaywalking). |
| Punishment | Severe penalties like long-term imprisonment or high fines. | Less severe penalties, often just a fine or very short jail time. |
The U.S. Context:
In the U.S. legal system, you will often see all violations categorized by severity using the term criminal offense to mean crime:
- Felonies: The most serious category of criminal offenses (e.g., Murder).6
- Misdemeanors: Less serious criminal offenses (e.g., simple assault, petty theft).
- Infractions/Violations: The least serious, often not considered a “crime” in the strict sense, as they usually only result in a fine (e.g., most speeding tickets).
In summary, while all crimes are offences, the term offence is sometimes used to encompass both major crimes (like felonies) and minor non-imprisonable violations (like many traffic tickets) where the intent is less about punishing a moral wrong and more about regulating public order.
