cause of action

noun phrase

: the grounds (such as violation of a right) that entitle a plaintiff to bring a suit

Examples of cause of action in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The response from Williamson’s team states that the statute of limitations has expired on each cause of action. — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

Scivetti is seeking monetary damages in the amount of $5 million for each cause of action. — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026

The third and final cause of action asserted by RCA sought injunctive relief against the Hus to basically stop them from continuing to complain about the warehouses. — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Baldwin, 68, did prevail on one cause of action when the court dismissed the gaffer’s claim of assault. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cause of action

• dissatisfaction
• overreaction
• abstraction
• attraction
• compaction
• contraction
• detraction
• diffraction
• distraction
• exaction
• extraction
• impaction

Legal Definition

cause of action

1

: the grounds (as violation of a right) that entitle a plaintiff to bring a suit

an amended pleading reiterating a cause of action for lost profits

—J. H. Friedenthal et al.

also : the part of a suit brought on those grounds

removed the cause of action to the district court

2

: right of action sense 1

the court, led by Justice Brennan, said Congress intended to provide a private cause of action

—National Law Journal