no-fault

adjective

ˈnō-ˈfȯlt 

1

: of, relating to, or being a motor vehicle insurance plan under which someone involved in an accident is compensated usually up to a stipulated limit for actual losses (as for property damage, medical bills, and lost wages) by that person's own insurance company regardless of who is responsible for the accident

2

: of, relating to, or being a divorce law under which neither party is held responsible for the breakup of the marriage

3

: characterized by the absence of a prevailing sense of individual responsibility (as for behavior)

Examples of no-fault in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Vance's comments have some advocates worried about possible efforts to repeal no-fault divorces. —Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 27 Nov. 2024

To date, every state in the U.S. has adopted a no-fault divorce option. —Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024

In 17 states, married people only have the option of choosing no-fault divorce to end their marriages. —Kimberlee Kruesi, Chicago Tribune, 26 Nov. 2024

Financial Vision was sued by GEICO in Brooklyn Federal Court last year in a civil suit alleging Financial Vision helped fund a scheme where doctors billed the insurance company for $3.5 million in no-fault medical procedures that either didn’t happen or weren’t necessary. —Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 18 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

no-fault

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or being a motor vehicle insurance plan under which someone injured in an accident is compensated usually up to a stipulated limit for especially actual losses (as for property damage, medical bills, and lost wages) by that person's own insurer regardless of who is responsible for the accident and is prohibited from or limited in his or her right to sue the responsible party

2

: of or relating to no-fault divorce

a no-fault ground for dissolution

see also no-fault divorce at divorce