in flagrante delicto
The phrase "in flagrante delicto" is Latin for 'while the crime is blazing' and is often used to describe someone caught in the act of wrongdoing.
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Definition
C1Legal
(formal)Caught in the act of committing a crime or wrongdoing.
Example
- The thief was apprehended in flagrante delicto by the police.
C1Colloquial
(informal)Caught in a compromising situation, especially during a sexual act.
Example
- They were discovered in flagrante delicto by a neighbor.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "in flagrante delicto":