before the fact
The phrase "before the fact" is commonly used in legal contexts to describe actions taken prior to the commission of a crime.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
C1Law
(technical)Describing actions or knowledge that occur before a crime is committed.
Example
- The suspect was charged as an accessory before the fact for helping plan the robbery.
B2General
(formal)Referring to events or actions that occur prior to a specific event or situation.
Example
- She made all the arrangements before the fact to ensure the event ran smoothly.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "before the fact":