Conditions that indicate the seriousness a crime and increase the defendant's punishment.

Facts about the case that tend to increase the severity of the crime. Examples of aggravating circumstances are a history of committing violent crimes or the same kind of crime, and the use of particular kinds of weapons in the commission of the crime.

Circumstances occurring in commission of an offense which occur above and beyond the offense itself and which serve to increase offense's guilt or enormity or add to its consequences. May increase sentence of individual convicted of offense. Compare mitigating circumstances.

Circumstances relating to the commission of a crime which cause its gravity to be greater than that of the average instance of the given type of offense.

Circumstances that increase the seriousness or outrageousness of a given crime, and that in turn increase the wrongdoer's penalty or punishment. For example, the crime of aggravated assault is a physical attack made worse because it is committed with a dangerous weapon, results in severe bodily injury or is made in conjunction with another serious crime. Aggravated assault is usually considered a felony, punishable by a prison sentence.