tortious
Legally wrongful conduct
Tortious describes conduct that constitutes a tort—a civil wrong for which someone can sue.
A tortious act might be negligence, defamation, or trespass: The company's tortious interference with the contract led to a lawsuit.
The word belongs to legal contexts and shouldn't be confused with tortuous (winding) or torturous (painful).
Without legal right
- unlawfulForbidden by statute
- actionableAble to be acted upon
- culpableDeserving of blame
- intentionalDone on purpose
reckless · careless · negligent · willful · wanton · malicious · fraudulent · injurious
Failure to exercise care
- trespassUnauthorized entry onto property
- nuisanceCause of aggravation
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- conversionAct of changing states
battery · assault · false imprisonment · fraud · misrepresentation · interference · invasion of privacy · infliction
Person who misbehaves
- delictCompensable civil wrong
- vicariousExperienced through another
- jointShared by multiple parties
- severalMore than two, fewer than many
strict · contributory · comparative · causation · duty of care · standard of care · foreseeability · culpability
Compensation for injury
- compensationPayment for services rendered
- injunctionCourt-ordered behavioral requirement
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- indemnityProtection against financial loss
redress · remedy · settlement · punitive damages · compensatory · monetary award · judgment · recovery
Civil court proceeding
- litigationLegal dispute process
- claimStatement of ownership or truth
- pleadingUrgent heartfelt request
- complaintExpression of discontent
defendant · plaintiff · cause of action · civil action · trial · verdict · adjudication · discovery
wrongful
Without legal right
- unlawfulForbidden by statute
- actionableAble to be acted upon
- culpableDeserving of blame
intentional · reckless · careless · negligent · willful · wanton · malicious · fraudulent · injurious · harmful
negligence
Failure to exercise care
- trespassUnauthorized entry onto property
- nuisanceCause of aggravation
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
conversion · battery · assault · false imprisonment · fraud · misrepresentation · interference · invasion of privacy · infliction · malpractice
wrongdoer
Person who misbehaves
several · strict · contributory · comparative · causation · duty of care · standard of care · foreseeability · culpability · accountability
damages
Compensation for injury
- compensationPayment for services rendered
- injunctionCourt-ordered behavioral requirement
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
indemnity · redress · remedy · settlement · punitive damages · compensatory · monetary award · judgment · recovery
lawsuit
Civil court proceeding
- litigationLegal dispute process
- claimStatement of ownership or truth
- pleadingUrgent heartfelt request
complaint · defendant · plaintiff · cause of action · civil action · trial · verdict · adjudication · discovery · burden of proof
tortiouslawful
Permitted by statute
legal · permissible · innocent · justified · blameless
tortiouscontractual
Relating to formal agreements
criminal · statutory · regulatory · consensual · equitable