moral turpitude

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

[edit] English

[edit] Noun

moral turpitude (uncountable)

1. depravity
2. (law) Any base or vile conduct, contrary to accepted morals, that accompanies a crime

[edit] Quotations

• 1836 The Punishment of Death: A Selection of Articles from the Morning Herald

  Here we see that both Lord TENTERDEN and Lord WYNFORD apply the test of moral turpitude to crime when considering the degree of punishment that ought to be annexed to it.

• 1998 Charles Jeszeck - Child Labor in Agriculture

  In fact, one view expressed at the time was that work on the farm was free from the moral turpitude of city sweatshops and that farm labor taught children valuable lessons and skills.