malicia

Malicia is the term used in Spanish and Portuguese to denote malice or ill will. In English, a closely related concept is malice; both derive from Latin malitia meaning badness or wickedness. The word in these Romance languages often appears in legal, literary, and everyday contexts to describe intentional wrongdoing or a wish to harm.

In legal contexts, malice typically refers to a deliberate or reckless state of mind toward others' rights or safety. In criminal law, the term is associated with intent to kill or injure, or with a reckless disregard for human life, as in malice aforethought, and in certain forms of murder. In civil law, malice may be invoked to establish liability in cases such as defamation, where actual malice must be shown (knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for the truth) to award damages in some jurisdictions.

Etymology: from Latin malitia, from malus meaning bad. Variants include Portuguese malícia and Spanish malicia, with similar senses.

In contemporary usage, malicia can also appear in literature, journalism, and everyday speech to describe motive driven by spite, deceit, or a deliberate wish to cause harm. The concept is often contrasted with negligence or good faith, highlighting different levels of intent in moral and legal assessments.