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Definition of tort

tort

/tɔːrt/
tort
Adverb:tortiously
•
Plural:torts
•
Adjective:tortious
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tort Lexical Profile

tort Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A wrongful act or an infringement of a right (other than under contract) leading to civil legal liability.

Example

"First-year law students spend an entire semester studying the law of torts, including negligence and defamation."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for tort

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'tort' (a civil wrong in law) with 'torte' (a rich cake) or 'tart' (a pastry). In legal contexts, a tort is distinct from a crime and from a breach of contract, though the same act can sometimes be both a tort and a crime.

• Rhymes for tort

• Nearby Words

torreon
torrid
torso
tort
torta
torte
tortellini

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Old French 'tort' ('wrong, injury'), from Medieval Latin 'tortum' ('injustice'), a noun use of the neuter past participle of Latin 'torquere' ('to twist, wring, distort').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tort. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tort
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