tort

American  

[tawrt] / tɔrt /

noun

Law.

1. a wrongful act, not including a breach of contract or trust, that results in injury to another's person, property, reputation, or the like, and for which the injured party is entitled to compensation.

---

tort British  

/ tɔːt /

noun

1. law a civil wrong arising from an act or failure to act, independently of any contract, for which an action for personal injury or property damages may be brought

---

Etymology

Origin of tort

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English: “injury, wrong,” from Old French, from Medieval Latin tortum “wrong, injustice,” noun use of neuter of Latin tortus “twisted, crooked, dubious,” past participle of torquēre “to twist, wring”

Example Sentences

They moved beyond their bread-and-butter fare of personal injury, adding departments for mass torts — cases that involves thousands of people suing over the same thing — and housing law.

From Los Angeles Times

Growth areas included private credit, bankruptcy and restructuring, large mergers and acquisitions, and mass torts litigation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Over the last five years, experts say, the practice of funding big mass tort cases has boomed in the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Now a new Federal Rule of Civil Procedure adopted by the Judicial Conference of the U.S. will discourage some of the litigation abuse that mars mass torts.

From The Wall Street Journal

Plaintiffs have likewise objected, saying he is trying to wipe out those liabilities and buy it back on the cheap, free and clear of tort liabilities.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• abuse
• bias
• blunder
• crime
• error
• evil
• grievance
• harm
• inequity
• injustice
• insult
• misdeed
• mistake
• prejudice
• slight
• transgression
• violation
• wrongdoing