Motive Is Not an Element of Most Crimes
A motive is a reason for acting. Prosecutors rarely have to prove one, despite what detective fiction suggests.
A motive is the reason someone acts. Criminal law treats it as evidence rather than as a requirement: what must be proved is *intention*, not why the defendant wanted the result. A jury may find motive persuasive, but its absence is not a defence, and a good motive does not excuse an intentional crime.
- A reason for acting. *A financial motive.*
- Causing motion. *Motive power.*
- A recurring theme. *A musical motive.*
- Motivate — to give reason to act. *Motivate the team.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | motive | An obvious motive. |
| Plural | motives | Mixed motives. |
| Verb | motivate | Motivate staff. |
| Noun | motivation | Strong motivation. |
| Related | motif | A recurring motif. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Motive is evidence, not an element.Criminal law.
- Motive power drives a train.Engineering.
- Motif and motive are the same word.Through French.
Motive, intention and premeditation
- Motive — why someone acted
- Intention — what they meant to achieve
- Premeditation — planning in advance
- Required — intention is usually required, motive is not
- Useful anyway — motive helps a jury believe the rest of the case
From Old French *motif*, from Latin *motivus*, moving, from *movere*, to move.
Do prosecutors have to prove motive?
Usually not. They must prove the required intention. Motive is evidence that can help persuade a jury but is not an element of the offence.
Motive or motif?
They are the same word from French. Motif is used for a recurring theme in art or music; motive for a reason to act.