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

Mass tort lawyers are also offering up help on social media to people who live near data centers and filing class action lawsuits against operators. — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026

He was also recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for 2024 and 2025 for his work in mass tort and class action litigation. — Matt Emma, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

The Iowa Supreme Court revived the case in May, ruling that the 2021 law does not cover common-law torts such as assault and battery. — William Morris, Des Moines Register, 9 Sep. 2026

Founded by Ralph Nader, the American Museum of Tort Law is the first and only museum of its kind devoted to educating the public about tort law. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026

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