Victimless

/ˈvɪktɪmlɪs/ adjective

Definition

A crime or wrongdoing that doesn't directly harm any specific person, though this is often debated since indirect harm may exist.

Etymology

From victim (a person harmed or killed) plus the suffix -less (without). The term became common in late 20th-century legal and philosophical discussions about victimless crimes like drug use.

Kelly Says

The term 'victimless crime' is controversial because philosophers argue that almost no act is truly victimless—even drug use harms families, communities, and future selves.

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