tort

noun

ˈtȯrt 

: a wrongful act other than a breach of contract for which relief may be obtained in the form of damages or an injunction

Did you know?

Tort came into English straight from French many centuries ago, and it still looks a little odd. Its root meaning of "twisted" (as opposed to "straight") obviously came to mean "wrong" (as opposed to "right"). Every first-year law student takes a course in the important subject of torts. Torts include all the so-called "product-liability" cases, against manufacturers of cars, household products, children's toys, and so on. They also cover dog bites, slander and libel, and a huge variety of other very personal cases of injury, both mental and physical—Torts class is never dull. If you're sued for a tort and lose, you usually have to pay "damages"—that is, a sum of money—to the person who you wronged.

Examples of tort in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Idaho law requires that tort claims against any state or local government agency be filed before the claimant can sue for damages. —Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 21 June 2025

Indeed, in 10 global emissions tort cases to reach the merits in which Chevron has been named as a defendant, 9 have been tossed, with only the case brought by the city and county of Honolulu proceeding on the merits in state court under Hawaii state law. —David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025

The Georgia General Assembly passed a comprehensive tort reform package that would limit some liability awards and protect businesses from lawsuits for acts outside of their control. —Kim Jarrett | The Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 18 Apr. 2025

During an interview this week with Martha Zoller, a conservative radio host who once worked for Kemp, the GOP governor — who’s been busy trying to pass tort reform before the end of the Georgia Legislature’s session in April — offered no indication about his future moves. —Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 8 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, injury, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin tortum, from Latin, neuter of tortus twisted, from past participle of torquēre

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tort

• bort
• corte
• court
• dort
• fort
• mort
• norte
• ort
• port
• porte
• quart
• short

Legal Definition

tort

noun

ˈtȯrt 

: a wrongful act other than a breach of contract that injures another and for which the law imposes civil liability : a violation of a duty (as to exercise due care) imposed by law as distinguished from contract for which damages or declaratory relief (as an injunction) may be obtained

also : a cause of action based on such an act

the court declined to recognize the tort

—National Law Journal

cannot sue in tort

compare crime, delict

Etymology

Anglo-French, wrongful or illegal act, from Old French, injury, from Medieval Latin tortum, from Latin, neuter of tortus twisted, from past participle of torquēre to twist