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attractive nuisance

American  

noun

  1. Law. a doctrine of tort law under which a person who creates or permits to exist on their land a dangerous condition attractive to children, as an unfenced swimming pool, is liable for their resulting injuries, even though the injured are trespassers.

  2. a hazardous condition or object a person creates or permits to exist on their land that is attractive to children.


Etymology

Origin of attractive nuisance

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Q. Attractive nuisance: My husband and I live in a small, tight-knit development full of families with young kids.

From Slate • Dec. 28, 2016