trespass

Beginner ⚖️ Legal

Definition

The legal term for being somewhere you're not supposed to be, whether you're wandering onto private property or, historically, committing a sin against divine law. Modern trespass law is basically fancy property-rights language for "get off my lawn," though it can involve both civil and criminal penalties. It's one of the oldest legal concepts, dating back to when "trespass" covered pretty much any wrongdoing.

Example Usage

The farmer posted 'No Trespassing' signs after hikers kept cutting through his fields without permission.

Source: Legal terminology via standard dictionary definition

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