(law, Britain, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong) A crime in some common law jurisdictions that can be proceeded against summarily, without the right to a jury trial and/or indictment, as required for an indictable offence.

(law, Britain, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong) An offence which can only be tried on an indictment after a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is a prima facie case to answer or by a grand jury, in contrast to a summary offence.

Alternative spelling of take offense

Alternative form of cognizable offence

(India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, criminal law) a criminal offence, usually serious in nature, that the offender may be arrested without warrant.

plural of cognisable offence

plural of cognizable offence

(criminal law, Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore, historical in UK) a criminal offence such that the offender may be arrested without warrant.

plural of arrestable offence

One's own offence.