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res ipsa loquitur

[ reez ip-suh loh-kwi-ter, lok-wi-, reys ]
/ ˈriz ˈɪp sə ˈloʊ kwɪ tər, ˈlɒk wɪ-, ˈreɪs /

noun Law.

the rule that an injury is due to the defendant's negligence when that which caused it was under his or her control or management and the injury would not have happened had proper management been observed.

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Nearby words

  1. reroute,
  2. rerun,
  3. res,
  4. res adjudicata,
  5. res gestae,
  6. res judicata,
  7. res publica,
  8. res.,
  9. res. phys.,
  10. resaca de la palma

Origin of res ipsa loquitur

First recorded in 1650–60, res ipsa loquitur is from the Latin word rēs ipsa loquitur literally, the thing itself speaks
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for res ipsa loquitur

res ipsa loquitur

/ (reɪs ˌɪpsɑː ˈlɒkwɪtə) /

law the thing or matter speaks for itself

Word Origin for res ipsa loquitur

Latin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for res ipsa loquitur

res ipsa loquitur

Latin, "the thing speaks for itself."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper