In legal terms, what constitutes a crime?

A crime is defined as an act that violates a specific legal statute established by the governing authority or law. This means that for an action to be classified as a crime, there must be clear legal repercussions outlined in the law that address the behavior. Legal systems require strict definitions of crimes, and these often include elements such as intent and harm.

While violations against moral codes or societal norms might indicate behavior that is frowned upon or deemed inappropriate, they do not necessarily meet the legal requirement of being classified as a crime without a corresponding legal statute. Similarly, acts classified as "against nature" lack a clear, universally recognized legal framework and are more subjective. Therefore, the most accurate definition of a crime in legal terms is an act against the law, as this is what establishes its criminality within a society's judicial system.