The act of aggravating, or making worse; -- used of evils, natural or moral; the act of increasing in severity or heinousness; something additional to a crime or wrong and enhancing its guilt or injurious consequences.

An extrinsic circumstance or accident which increases the guilt of a crime or the misery of a calamity.

Facts about the defendant or the crime that are used by the court when determining the prison sentence. Under the sentencing criteria, these facts may contribute to a longer prison sentence.

n. The fact of being made heavier or more heinous, as a crime , offense, misfortune, etc.

Some circumstance in a criminal case which renders any conviction more serious.

Aggravation is a legal concept, which Black's Law Dictionary defines as: "Any circumstance attending the commission of a crime or tort which increases its guilt or enormity or adds to its injurious consequences, but which is above and beyond the essential constituents of the crime or tort itself." For example, aggravated assault is usually differentiated from simple assault by the offender's intent (i.e., to murder, to rape etc.), the extent of the injury to the victim, or the use of a deadly weapon. An aggravating circumstance is a kind of attendant circumstance and the opposite of an extenuating or mitigating circumstance, which decreases guilt.