Del. C. » Title 11 — Delaware Criminal Code · CHAPTER 2. General Provisions Concerning Offenses · Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Delaware Code

11 Del. C. § 221 (2026)

Principles of definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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(a) In this Criminal Code when the word “means” is employed in defining a word or term, the definition is limited to the meaning given.

(b) In this Criminal Code, when the word “includes” is employed in defining a word or term, the definition is not limited to the meaning given, but in appropriate cases the word or term may be defined in any way not inconsistent with the definition given.

(c) If a word used in this Criminal Code is not defined herein, it has its commonly accepted meaning, and may be defined as appropriate to fulfill the purposes of the provision as declared in § 201 of this title.

11 Del. C. 1953, §  221;  58 Del. Laws, c. 497, §  1; 
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1975–2026 · leading case: Zambrana v. State, 118 A.3d 773 (Del. 2015).
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Zambrana v. State, 118 A.3d 773 (Del. 2015). · cites it 2× “16 11 Del. C. § 221(c). 17 Spielberg, 558 A.”
State v. Smallwood, 346 A.2d 164 (Del. 1975). · cites it 2× “That, of course, is required under 11 Del.C. § 221(c). 1 The Court then went on and held that by such test “display” means to “spread before the view” or “exhibit to the sight or mind.”
State v. Tarbutton, 407 A.2d 538 (Del. Super. Ct. 1979). “” 11 Del.C. § 221(c). Black’s Law Dictionary 1393 (rev.”
Gregory v. State (Del. 2023). · cites it 2× “”16 Relying on 11 Del. C. § 221(c), the trial judge reasoned that when the criminal code does not define a word, the jury 15 App.”
Wiggins v. State (Del. 2020). “5 11 Del. C. § 221. 6 16 Del. C. § 4752(4), amended by 82 Del.”
State v. Gregory (Del. Super. Ct. 2022). “, 11 Del. C. § 221(c) (providing “[i]f a word used in this Criminal Code is not defined herein, it has its commonly accepted meaning .”
Hastings v. State (Del. 2023). “2000)); see also 11 Del. C. § 221 (“If a word used in th[e] Criminal Code is not defined herein, it has its commonly accepted meaning.”
Coker v. State (Del. 2023). “28, 2000) (TABLE) (quoting 11 Del. C. § 221(c)). 24 Substantial, BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY (11th ed.”
Holloman v. Pierce (D. Del. 2020). “The words “cruel, wicked, and depraved” are not defined in the Delaware Code, and 11 Del. C. § 221 actually provides that words not defined in the code be given their commonly accepted meaning.”
Ford v. State (Del. 2025). “Ford argues only that the court’s inference instruction created “confusion” that he was “presumed as a matter of law” to intend “the probable 77 11 Del. C. § 221(c) (“If a word used in this Criminal Code is not defined herein, it has its commonly accepted meaning, and may be…”
State of Delaware v. Steven Wu (Del. Ct. Com. Pl. 2026). “” Dictionary definitions of the relevant words support a finding Section 1335(a)(9)(b) concerns acts occurring outside the confines of a restricted, nonpublic association of two or more people, without regard to the status of that relationship when the proscribed acts occur.”
Britt v. State (Del. 2015). “”15 Additionally, we have found that possible bullet fragmentation or ricochet is sufficient evidence to warrant a finding of a substantial risk of death as to an unintended victim located in the close vicinity of a shooting.”
— 11 Del. C. § 221(c) — 9 cases
Zambrana v. State, 118 A.3d 773 (Del. 2015). “16 11 Del. C. § 221(c). 17 Spielberg, 558 A.”
State v. Smallwood, 346 A.2d 164 (Del. 1975). “That, of course, is required under 11 Del.C. § 221(c). 1 The Court then went on and held that by such test “display” means to “spread before the view” or “exhibit to the sight or mind.”
State v. Tarbutton, 407 A.2d 538 (Del. Super. Ct. 1979). “” 11 Del.C. § 221(c). Black’s Law Dictionary 1393 (rev.”
Gregory v. State (Del. 2023). “”16 Relying on 11 Del. C. § 221(c), the trial judge reasoned that when the criminal code does not define a word, the jury 15 App.”
State v. Gregory (Del. Super. Ct. 2022). “, 11 Del. C. § 221(c) (providing “[i]f a word used in this Criminal Code is not defined herein, it has its commonly accepted meaning .”
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