noun

tort

tawt

Tort (noun) means In law, a wrongful act (other than breaking a contract) that harms someone and can be addressed through a civil lawsuit. Example: “Negligence is one of the most common types of tort.”

noun

In law, a wrongful act (other than breaking a contract) that harms someone and can be addressed through a civil lawsuit.

"Negligence is one of the most common types of tort."

"The company was sued for the tort of trespass."

How to use tort

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA legal term for a civil wrong that lets the injured party sue for damages.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "torte" (a rich cake) — they sound similar but have nothing to do with each other.

Easily confused with

torte →

Common pairings

law of tort tort claim commit a tort

Word forms

more tort comparative, torter comparative, torts plural, most tort superlative, tortest superlative

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Test yourself on “tort” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Negligence is one of the most common types of _____.

Etymology

From Old French tort, "wrong," ultimately from Latin tortus, "twisted" — the same root gives us "torture" and "distort."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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civil wrong

Rhymes for tort

port sort wort mort fort Cort short sport snort

See all rhymes for tort →

Frequently asked questions

What does “tort” mean?

The word “tort” means in law, a wrongful act (other than breaking a contract) that harms someone and can be addressed through a civil lawsuit. In plain terms, a legal term for a civil wrong that lets the injured party sue for damages.

How do you pronounce “tort”?

“Tort” is pronounced tawt (/tɔɹt/ in IPA).

How do you use “tort” in a sentence?

Here is “tort” used in a sentence: “Negligence is one of the most common types of tort.”

What part of speech is “tort”?

“Tort” is a noun.

Where does the word “tort” come from?

The word “tort” comes from Latin. From Old French tort, "wrong," ultimately from Latin tortus, "twisted" — the same root gives us "torture" and "distort.".