tort

Everyday

1. (law) A tort is a wrong done to someone, such as hurting them through carelessness or damaging their property, for which they can sue in a civil court for money (damages), even though it may not be a crime. tree →
2. It is not the same as «torte», a rich cake, or «taut», which means tight. tree →

In the lessons

In lessons about adult life and the law, it explains that if someone's carelessness hurts you (for example a shop leaves a wet floor with no sign and you fall), you may claim compensation; this is called negligence, a kind of tort. Phrases: «tort law», «the law of torts», «sue for a tort».

Examples

• Negligence is a tort, like when a careless driver hits a parked car. tree →
• Tort law decides who must pay when someone is harmed. tree →
• Trespassing on land can be a tort. tree →
• A lawyer explained that the tort case was about a dog bite. tree →
• In a tort case, the winner usually gets money, not a prison sentence for the other side. tree →
• Spreading lies that harm someone's name can be a tort called defamation. tree →

Note

Countable: a tort, torts. Formal legal word. A crime is punished by the state; a tort is a wrong for which the hurt person sues. Some acts can be both. Do not confuse with «torte» (a cake, from German) or «taught».