| Noun | 1. | guilt - the state of having committed an offense Synonyms: guiltiness Antonyms: innocence - a state or condition of being innocent of a specific crime or offense; "the trial established his innocence" |
| 2. | guilt - remorse caused by feeling responsible for some offence |
GUILT, crim. law. That quality which renders criminal and liable to
punishment; or it is that disposition to violate the law, which has
manifested itself by some act already done. The opposite of innocence. Vide
Rutherf. Inst. B. 1, c. 18, s. 10.
2. In general everyone is presumed innocent until guilt has been
proved; but in some cases the presumption of guilt overthrows that of
innocence; as, for example, where a party destroys evidence to which the
opposite party is entitled. The spoliation of papers, material to show the
neutral character of a vessel, furnishes strong presumption against the
neutrality of the ship. 2 Wheat. 227. Vide Spoliation.