Legal Definitions - Premeditation

Definition: Premeditation is when someone thinks about doing something for a while and then actually does it.

Example 1: John had been thinking about quitting his job for months. He finally premeditated his resignation and handed in his notice.

Example 2: Mary had a fight with her friend and was angry. She premeditated her revenge by spreading rumors about her friend.

These examples illustrate premeditation because in both cases, the individuals thought about their actions before carrying them out. They didn't just act impulsively or without any prior thought. Premeditation can be a sign of planning and intentionality, but it can also be a sign of malice or harmful intent.