transferred intent

noun | \ in-ˈtent \ | in·tent

1. a : the design or purpose to commit a wrongful or criminal act — called also criminal intent; compare knowledge, mens rea, motive, negligence

1. b : the purpose to commit a tortious act having consequences that the actor desires and believes or knows will occur

   — constructive intent
   : intent that is inferred to exist (as from willfulness or recklessness) in relation to an act

   — criminal intent
   : intent 1a

   — general intent
   : intent to perform an illegal act without the desire for further consequences or a precise result there was a general intent to assault but not to kill

   — specific intent
   : intent to perform an illegal act with the knowledge or purpose that particular results will or may ensue assaulted him with specific intent to kill

   — transferred intent
   : intent attributed to a person who intends to cause another harm when the harm is accidentally inflicted on an unintended victim : a doctrine in tort and criminal law: a wrongdoer who causes harm to a person other than the one intended may nevertheless be held to have intended the harmful result

2. a : intendment — see also legislative intent

   b : the purpose of a document (as a contract or will)

   c : the aim or goal of a person in creating a document or taking an action the court's attempt to fulfill the donor's intent the intent of the contracting parties implied by their language — see also original intent