ಒಂದು ಸಮುದಾಯದ ನೀತಿಗಳ ವಿರುದ್ಧದ ನಡವಳಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಅಪರಾಧ ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅಪರಾಧ ಎಸೆಗುವ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳು ಅಪರಾಧಿಗಳು. ನಮ್ಮ ಯಾವುದಾದರು ಕ್ರಿಯೆ ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬರಿಗೆ ತೊಂದರೆ ಉಂಟು ಮಾಡಿದರೆ, ಅದು ಅಪರಾಧವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ - ಕೊಲೆ, ಸುಲಿಗೆ, ಕಳ್ಳತನ, ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ.

In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The term crime does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition, though statutory definitions have been provided for certain purposes. The most popular view is that crime is a category created by law; in other words, something is a crime if declared as such by the relevant and applicable law. One proposed definition is that a crime or offence is an act harmful not only to some individual but also to a community, society, or the state. Such acts are forbidden and punishable by law.