Provocation – in the area of Criminal Law, the term details a negative action by the victim, which has provoked the convicted person to commit the offense. For example, if the victim threated the convicted so he pulled out a knife and stubbed the victim. In some cases the provocation, when proved, can reduce the guilt by the convicted, i.e. to bring reducing of the sentence/punishment.

Synonyms are “harassment” and “insult”.