An act or omission forbidden by law and punishable by fines or imprisonment is known as what?

The term that describes an act or omission forbidden by law and punishable by fines or imprisonment is "crime." In legal terminology, a crime encompasses behavior that is defined by statutes as harmful to society as a whole. This includes both felonies and misdemeanors, which differ in severity and penalty but are both deemed criminal acts.

Crimes are typically categorized based on their nature and the degrees of punishment, with serious crimes often carrying harsher penalties like imprisonment, while lesser offenses might incur fines or shorter sentences. The fundamental aspect of a crime is that it violates established laws designed to protect public order and safety.

While the other terms such as infraction, violation, and offense may describe specific types of illegal acts, they do not comprehensively encompass the broad legal implications associated with the term "crime." For example, infractions often refer to minor violations that usually do not result in imprisonment, while violations can be a less formal term for unlawful acts that may not necessarily carry severe penalties. Similarly, the term "offense" is more general and can include both crimes and less severe legal breaches. Therefore, "crime" is the most accurate term to describe an act punishable by law.