cy pres

American  

[see prey] / ˈsi ˈpreɪ /

Or cypres

preposition

1. as near as possible.

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noun

1. the doctrine, applied especially to cases of charitable trusts or donations, that, in place of an impossible or illegal condition, limitation, or object, allows the nearest practicable one to be substituted.

cy pres British  

/ siː ˈpreɪ /

noun

1. law the doctrine that the intention of a donor or testator should be carried out as closely as practicable when literal compliance is impossible

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Etymology

Origin of cy pres

1475–85; < Anglo-French: literally, as near (compare French si près )

Example Sentences

And while Sotomayor noted that such cy pres settlements are rare, Frank said more will be on the way because of the 9th Circuit’s standards.

From Washington Post • Oct. 31, 2018

Under cy pres, for instance, the March of Dimes could turn its focus to other childhood diseases once polio was eradicated.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2018

Chief Justice John Roberts has previously expressed concern about cy pres abuses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2018

But in several instances, courts have rejected the settlements after finding the money dedicated to the cy pres award should go to the plaintiffs themselves, or are going to inappropriate charities.

From Reuters • Sep. 28, 2012

The decision marked the latest by a court to address so-called cy pres awards in class actions, in which money is dedicated to charity rather than distributed to the plaintiffs themselves.

From Reuters • Sep. 28, 2012