collocation · neutral
motive for the crime
UK/ˈməʊtɪv fɔː ðə kraɪm/US/ˈmoʊtɪv fɔr ðə kraɪm/MO·tive FOR the CRIME
The reason or motive behind why someone committed an offence.
Examples
“Police investigators searched for a motive for the crime before making arrests.”
“Understanding the motive for the crime can be important in both criminal and social analysis.”
“Lack of an obvious motive complicated the prosecution's case.”
Band 8 sentence
“Although the defendant admitted presence at the scene, the prosecution failed to establish a credible motive for the crime.”
Collocations
- establish a motive for the crime
- lack an apparent motive
Word family
Common mistakes
reason of the crime→motive for the crime
crime motive→motive for the crime
Say it for a higher band
5reason of the crime→6crime motive→7+motive for the crime
Synonyms
reason for the offence
Easily confused
means and motive
“The police looked for both means and motive to link the suspect to the offence.”
Related words
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In Crime & Law
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