barratry

noun

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bar·ra·try | \ ˈber-ə-trē

, ˈba-rə- \

plural barratries

Definition of barratry

1 : the purchase or sale of office or preferment in church or state

2 : an unlawful act or fraudulent breach of duty by a master of a ship or by the mariners to the injury of the owner of the ship or cargo

3 : the persistent incitement of litigation

Examples of barratry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Tran withdrew her federal suit against Watts for identity theft, but filed another one in state court, along with the barratry claim against him and Hilliard, both of whom deny any wrongdoing. — Francesca Mari, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'barratry.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Barratry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barratry. Accessed 17 Jul. 2021.

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More Definitions for barratry

barratry

noun

bar·ra·try | \ ˈbar-ə-trē

plural barratries

Legal Definition of barratry

1 : an unlawful act or fraudulent breach of duty by a ship's master or crew that injures the interests of the ship's or cargo's owners —often used in marine insurance policies

Note: Examples of barratry include embezzling cargo, stealing a ship's equipment, or willfully sinking a ship.

2 : the persistent incitement of litigation