noun
: a contempt that is committed outside the presence of a court in session or of a judge acting in a judicial capacity and is either civil in character when in willful disobedience to a lawful order or decree made for the benefit of a party or criminal in character when tending to belittle or insult the court or judge or to interfere with or degrade or obstruct justice : an indirect or consequential contempt — compare criminal contempt , direct contempt