lese majesty: Meaning and Definition of

lese' maj'esty

Pronunciation: (lēz), [key]
    1. a crime, esp. high treason, committed against the sovereign power.
    2. an offense that violates the dignity of a ruler.
  1. an attack on any custom, institution, belief, etc., held sacred or revered by numbers of people: Her speech against Mother's Day was criticized as lese majesty.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.