tort
A wrongful act causing injury for which civil legal action can be brought
Examples
In a meeting
“The legal team is assessing whether the data breach constitutes a tort under state law.”
Over coffee
“Spreading false rumors about someone's business could be considered a tort.”
Why this word
wrong
Tort is the specific legal term for a civil wrong causing harm; wrong is too vague
injury
Injury is the harm suffered; tort is the legal classification of the wrongful act causing civil liability
offense
Offense can be criminal; tort specifically denotes a civil wrong remedied by damages, not criminal punishment
Usage tip
Legal term for civil wrongs (as opposed to criminal acts or breach of contract); common in liability discussions.
Etymology
Latin 'tortum' meaning 'wrong, injustice' from 'torquere' (to twist)
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Related words
nullify
To make something legally void or completely ineffective
enjoin
To legally prohibit or order someone to do or not do something
proscribe
To officially forbid or condemn something
severability
The legal principle that if one part of a contract is invalid, the rest remains enforceable
quorum
The minimum number of members required to be present for valid proceedings
recuse
To remove oneself from a decision due to conflict of interest or bias