tort
Americannoun
-
torts
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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”
Explanation
If you sue a surgeon for operating on your left foot instead of the right one, you are filing a tort suit. Hopefully, you'll walk out of court victorious (on both feet). Tort comes from the Latin word tortum, meaning "wrong." When someone has done some wrong to you, you can seek justice (in the form of payment) by taking them to court. Tortum itself comes from tortus (also Latin) meaning "twisted." So remember if someone does something twisted, like spread terrible lies about you, you could pursue a tort claim.
Vocabulary lists containing tort
Twists and Turns: Tor
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Just Mercy
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Judicial System
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
No one can bargain away federal tax liability in a tort settlement on any letterhead.
From Slate ● Aug. 10, 2026
Decisively linking extreme weather to emissions would bolster billion-dollar tort claims.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
Texas has marketed itself as business-friendly by using tax breaks and tort reform to attract companies and by establishing its own courts to compete with Delaware’s position as the nation’s premier corporate hub.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
He said he anticipates filing around 80 tort claims stemming from the immigration enforcement actions there.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026
I was far more excited about the prospect of my brother taking his wedding vows, in other words, than I was about reviewing what constituted a tort.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
But mass torts won’t solve this complex cultural problem.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
I’d been invited to speak because I’m a national expert on mass torts, but no one really wanted me there.
From Slate ● Jan. 13, 2026
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 ● Dec. 31, 2025
Growth areas included private credit, bankruptcy and restructuring, large mergers and acquisitions, and mass torts litigation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 30, 2025
Contracts, notes and bills, torts, replevin, and ejectment—all those things were easy.
From Heart's Desire by Emerson Hough
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
