tort
UK: tɔːt | US: tɔːrt
n. a wrongful act or infringement of a right (other than under contract) leading to legal liability.
The word "tort" originates from Latin tortum, meaning "twisted" or "crooked," reflecting the idea of a wrongful or unjust act. This metaphorical extension—from physical twisting to moral/legal wrongdoing—parallels other legal terms like "torture" (originally "twisting" to inflict pain). The term entered English via Old French tort (injury, wrong) in the 14th century, solidifying its legal sense by the 1580s.
The lawsuit alleged a tort of negligence against the manufacturer.
Defamation is a common tort in civil law.
The court awarded damages for the intentional tort.
Tort law addresses harms not covered by contractual agreements.
Proving a tort requires demonstrating duty, breach, and causation.