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

She writes about high-profile trials, lawsuits that explore novel questions, and cases that reveal legal tensions for companies, including about mass torts, technology, labor, and antitrust.

From The Wall Street Journal

Retes has filed a tort claim against the U.S. government, a process that is rarely successful, said his attorney, Anya Bidwell.

From Los Angeles Times

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

Related Words

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