What term describes crimes that are wrong solely because they are defined as such by law?

The term that describes crimes that are considered wrong solely because they are defined as such by law is "mala prohibita." These offenses do not necessarily have a moral aspect to them; rather, their criminality arises from their prohibition by statute or regulation. Examples of mala prohibita offenses include traffic violations, regulatory offenses, and other nonviolent crimes that are crimes primarily because they have been enacted into law.

In contrast, crimes classified as "mala in se" are those that are inherently wrong and considered immoral or evil regardless of any law, such as murder or theft. Felonies and misdemeanors refer primarily to the severity of the crimes rather than their moral standing; felonies are typically more serious offenses that may result in imprisonment for more than a year, while misdemeanors are less serious and usually result in shorter jail time or fines. Thus, "mala prohibita" is the correct term for laws that define crimes based purely on legal statutes, regardless of any moral implications.