Tort
noun /tɔːt/ — A civil wrong that can be the basis for a legal claim.
Definition
A wrongful act or infringement of a right (other than under contract) that leads to civil legal liability — the category of civil wrongs, as opposed to criminal wrongs, for which a person can claim damages.
Beyond the definition
Tort law is the law of civil wrongs — negligence, defamation, nuisance, trespass. Not crimes (which the state prosecutes) but harms done by one person to another for which the injured party can seek legal remedy. Much of everyday life is shaped by tort: product safety, medical malpractice, environmental protection.
Origin & history
From Old French tort (wrong, injustice), from Latin tortum (twisted), past participle of torquere (to twist). A wrong is literally something twisted — bent from the right shape.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The company faced a tort action for the injuries caused by its defective product.
Defamation, negligence, and nuisance are all torts — civil wrongs actionable in private law.
The line between a tort and a crime is often the same act seen from different angles.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Tort” when the meaning fits your context: A wrongful act or infringement of a right (other than under contract) that leads to civil legal liability — the category of civil wrongs, as opposed to criminal wrongs, for which a person can claim damages.
Synonyms
civil wrong, legal injury, actionable wrong
Antonyms
criminal offence, contractual breach
Related words
Tort vs crime
A tort is a civil wrong addressed through private lawsuits between individuals. A crime is a public wrong against the state, typically resulting in criminal prosecution.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Unfairly Singling Out Colleague
Coworkers stand together while unfairly pointing to one colleague for a shared project failure in an office setting.
The unfair singling out of an individual is an analogy for a tort—a civil wrong where someone’s right is infringed upon outside of a contract. The image illustrates a situation of personal and professional liability that could lead to a claim for damages.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Tort" mean?
Tort is noun meaning: A civil wrong that can be the basis for a legal claim.. A wrongful act or infringement of a right (other than under contract) that leads to civil legal liability — the category of civil wrongs, as opposed to criminal wrongs, for which a person can claim damages.
Where does the word "Tort" come from?
From Old French tort (wrong, injustice), from Latin tortum (twisted), past participle of torquere (to twist). A wrong is literally something twisted — bent from the right shape.