What does malum prohibitum mean?

Malum prohibitum refers to acts that are considered wrong not because they are inherently evil, but because they are prohibited by law or societal norms. This concept highlights that certain actions are deemed unacceptable primarily due to the regulations in place, rather than any underlying moral failure. For example, laws against jaywalking or certain regulatory offenses illustrate malum prohibitum, as these actions are not inherently harmful but are deemed unacceptable due to established rules designed to maintain order and safety in society.

The other choices represent different legal concepts or classifications. The notion of acts that are inherently evil in nature relates to malum in se, which suggests that some actions are wrong regardless of laws or social norms. Societal acceptance does not factor into the definition of malum prohibitum, and actions showing intent to harm are associated with criminal intent, which is not a requirement for malum prohibitum offenses. Thus, the definition of malum prohibitum as acts wrong due to societal prohibition aligns perfectly with the selected answer.