The world of law is filled with complex terms and specialized concepts that hold great importance for professionals working in the legal field. English legal terms, in particular, play a crucial role in international cooperation, academic studies, and legal education. In this article, we will take a look at the most commonly used English legal terms and their meanings. For lawyers, judges, students, or any citizen interested in law, understanding these terms correctly helps in following legal processes and ensures that everyone is aware of their rights before the law.
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Law Terms In English
Down below, we have compiled legal terms in English for you. By looking at the meanings of these terms, you can gain a better understanding of the words you’re curious about and also improve your English vocabulary.
| English Term | English Definition / Meaning |
|---|---|
| A | |
| Acquit (v.) | To find someone not guilty of a crime. |
| Act (n.) | A law made by a government; a thing done. |
| Adjournment (n.) | Postponing a meeting or court case to a later time. |
| Administration (n.) | The management of public affairs; the government. |
| Admission (n.) | A statement acknowledging the truth of something. |
| Affidavit (n.) | A written statement confirmed by oath, for use as evidence in court. |
| Agency (n.) | An organization or business providing a particular service. |
| Agreement (n.) | A negotiated and typically legally binding arrangement between parties. |
| Allegation (n.) | A claim that someone has done something illegal, made without proof. |
| Amnesty (n.) | An official pardon for people convicted of (usually political) offenses. |
| Annul (v.) | To declare invalid (an official agreement, decision, or result). |
| Appeal (n.) | An application to a higher court for a decision to be reversed. |
| Apprehension (n.) | The action of arresting someone. |
| Arbitration (n.) | The use of an independent person (arbitrator) to settle a dispute. |
| Arrest (n.) | The action of seizing someone by legal authority. |
| Assize Court | (Historical) A high court that held sessions in different locations. |
| Association (n.) | A group of people organized for a joint purpose. |
| Authority (n.) | The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. |
| B | |
| Bail (n.) | The temporary release of an accused person awaiting trial. |
| Bankruptcy (n.) | The state of being unable to pay one's debts. |
| Barrister (n.) | A type of lawyer (in the UK) qualified to plead cases in court. |
| Beneficiary (n.) | A person who benefits from something, like a will or trust. |
| Binding (adj.) | (of an agreement) imposing a legal obligation. |
| Board of Auditors | A group responsible for examining and verifying financial records. |
| Breach of contract | Failing to perform any term of a contract. |
| C | |
| Capital Punishment | The death penalty; legally authorized killing as punishment. |
| Case (n.) | A matter decided in a court of law. |
| Charge (n.) | A formal accusation made by the police or prosecution. |
| Civil Law | The system of law concerned with private relations between people. |
| Claimant (n.) | A person making a claim, especially in a lawsuit (also "Plaintiff"). |
| Clause (n.) | A particular and separate article or provision in a contract or will. |
| Compensation (n.) | Money awarded to someone for loss, injury, or suffering. |
| Concurrent sentence | Prison sentences for multiple offenses that are served at the same time. |
| Confederation (n.) | An organization of groups united in an alliance. |
| Confession (n.) | A formal statement admitting that one is guilty of a crime. |
| Consent (n.) | Permission for something to happen or agreement to do something. |
| Constitution (n.) | The set of basic principles and laws by which a state is governed. |
| Constitutional Court | A high court that deals primarily with constitutional law. |
| Contract (n.) | A written or spoken agreement that is enforceable by law. |
| Convict (n.) | A person found guilty of a criminal offense. |
| Copyright (n.) | The exclusive legal right to publish, perform, or record artistic material. |
| Court (n.) | The place where legal trials take place and crimes are judged. |
| Court Appearance | The act of coming to court as a participant in a legal proceeding. |
| Courtroom (n.) | The room in which a court of law is held. |
| Creditor (n.) | A person or company to whom money is owed. |
| Crime (n.) | An action that is an offense and is punishable by law. |
| Criminal Law | A system of law concerned with the punishment of those who commit crimes. |
| Criminal Record | An official list of crimes a person has been convicted of. |
| Custody (n.) | Imprisonment; the protective care or guardianship of someone. |
| D | |
| Debtor (n.) | A person or institution that owes a sum of money. |
| Decree (n.) | An official order issued by a legal authority. |
| Defendant (n.) | An individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law. |
| Detention (n.) | The action of holding someone in official custody. |
| Discharge (n.) | To allow someone to leave (e.g., from prison); to release from an obligation. |
| Dispute (n.) | A disagreement or argument. |
| Divorce (n.) | The legal dissolution (ending) of a marriage. |
| E | |
| Enforce (v.) | To compel observance of or compliance with (a law, rule, or obligation). |
| Evidence (n.) | Information used in a court of law to prove or disprove something. |
| External Audit | An independent examination of an organization's financial records. |
| F | |
| Fair Trial | A trial that is conducted justly, equitably, and with procedural regularity. |
| Felony (n.) | A serious crime (in the US and other legal systems). |
| Fine (n.) | A sum of money imposed as a penalty for an offense. |
| Forensic Medicine | The application of medical knowledge to legal questions. |
| Fraud (n.) | Wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain. |
| G | |
| General Assembly | The main representative body of an organization (e.g., the UN). |
| H | |
| Hearing (n.) | An opportunity to state one's case, especially before a court. |
| Homicide (n.) | The killing of one person by another. |
| I | |
| Illegal (adj.) | Contrary to or forbidden by law. |
| Imprisonment (n.) | The state of being in prison; captivity. |
| Indictment (n.) | A formal charge or accusation of a serious crime. |
| Inheritance Law | The area of law that deals with property distribution after death. |
| Injunction (n.) | A court order requiring a person to do or stop doing a specific action. |
| Internal Audit | An examination of an organization's processes by its own employees. |
| Investigation (n.) | The formal or systematic examination of a matter. |
| J | |
| Joint Stock Company | A company whose stock is owned jointly by the shareholders. |
| Judge (n.) | A public official appointed to decide cases in a court of law. |
| Judgment (n.) | The decision of a court or judge. |
| Judicial (adj.) | Relating to a court of law or the administration of justice. |
| Jurisdiction (n.) | The official power to make legal decisions and judgments. |
| Jury (n.) | A group of people sworn to give a verdict in a legal case. |
| Justice (n.) | The quality of being fair; the administration of the law. |
| Juvenile (n.) | A young person (often used in a legal context). |
| L | |
| Labor Law | The area of law that governs the employer-employee relationship. |
| Law (n.) | The system of rules which a country recognizes as regulating its members. |
| Lawsuit (n.) | A claim or dispute brought to a court of law for a decision. |
| Lawyer (n.) | A person who practices or studies law. |
| Legal (adj.) | Relating to the law; permitted by law. |
| Legal Aid | Government-funded legal advice for people who cannot afford it. |
| Legal Representative | A person (like a lawyer) authorized to act on behalf of someone else. |
| Legislation (n.) | Laws, considered collectively. |
| Liability (n.) | The state of being legally responsible for something. |
| Litigant (n.) | A person involved in a lawsuit. |
| Litigation (n.) | The process of taking legal action. |
| M | |
| Mediation (n.) | A process where a neutral third party helps disputing parties reach an agreement. |
| Misdemeanor (n.) | A minor wrongdoing; a less serious crime than a felony. |
| Mortgage (n.) | A legal agreement to borrow money, using property as security. |
| N | |
| Negligence (n.) | Failure to take proper care, resulting in damage or injury. |
| Non-Profit Organization | An organization that uses its surplus revenues to achieve its goals. |
| Notary Public | A person authorized to perform certain legal formalities (e.g., certify documents). |
| Notice (n.) | A formal announcement or warning of something. |
| O | |
| Oath (n.) | A solemn promise regarding one's future action or behavior. |
| Objection (n.) | An expression of disapproval or opposition, especially in a courtroom. |
| Obligation (n.) | A duty or commitment. |
| Offence (n.) | A breach of a law or rule; an illegal act. |
| P | |
| Pardon (n.) | The action of forgiving someone for an offense. |
| Parole (n.) | The early release of a prisoner on the promise of good behavior. |
| Partnership (n.) | An association of two or more people as partners in a business. |
| Patent (n.) | The sole right to make, use, or sell an invention. |
| Plaintiff (n.) | A person who brings a case against another in a court of law (also "Claimant"). |
| Plea (n.) | A formal statement by a defendant, stating guilt or innocence. |
| Power of Attorney | The authority to act for another person in legal or financial matters. |
| Probation (n.) | The release of an offender from detention, subject to supervision. |
| Proceeding (n.) | Legal action taken in a court. |
| Property (n.) | A thing or things belonging to someone; possessions. |
| Prosecution (n.) | The institution of legal proceedings against someone (the "accusing" side). |
| Prosecutor (n.) | A lawyer who conducts the case against a defendant in a criminal court. |
| R | |
| Regulation (n.) | A rule or directive made and maintained by an authority. |
| Remit (v.) | To send a case back to a lower court for further action. |
| Responsibility (n.) | The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something. |
| Right (n.) | A moral or legal entitlement to have or do something. |
| Ruling (n.) | An authoritative decision or judgment made by a judge. |
| S | |
| Sanction (n.) | A threatened penalty for disobeying a law or rule. |
| Sentence (n.) | The punishment assigned to a defendant found guilty by a court. |
| Signature (n.) | A person's name written as a form of identification. |
| Stakeholder (n.) | A person with an interest or concern in something (e.g., a business). |
| Subpoena (n.) | A writ ordering a person to attend a court. |
| Summons (n.) | An order to appear before a judge or magistrate. |
| Suspect (n.) | A person thought to be guilty of a crime or offense. |
| T | |
| Tax (n.) | A compulsory contribution to state revenue. |
| Termination (n.) | The action of bringing something to an end. |
| Testimony (n.) | A formal written or spoken statement, especially one given in a court of law. |
| Title Deed | A legal document that proves a person's ownership of a property. |
| Trademark (n.) | A symbol, word, or words legally registered as representing a company. |
| Treaty (n.) | A formally concluded and ratified agreement between countries. |
| Trial (n.) | A formal examination of evidence before a judge to decide guilt. |
| V | |
| Verdict (n.) | A decision on a disputed issue in a civil or criminal case. |
| W | |
| Warrant (n.) | A document authorizing the police to make an arrest, search, or seize. |
| Witness (n.) | A person who sees an event; a person giving sworn testimony to a court. |
Example Sentences With Law Terms
Now that we’ve looked at the meanings of the words in the table, let’s see how these terms are used in sentences.
The judge decided to acquit the defendant after reviewing the evidence provided in the case.
According to the new Act, the administration must ensure proper admission procedures at all public offices.
The lawyer submitted an affidavit to the agency before signing the official agreement.
The politician denied the allegation and requested amnesty for minor offences during the adjournment of the meeting.
The court decided to annul the previous appeal, causing apprehension among the parties involved.
The companies agreed to arbitration after the arrest of the suspect in a financial dispute.
The Assize Court ruled in favor of the association under the authority of the central government.
The judge set a high bail for the accused who had previously filed for bankruptcy.
The barrister explained that the beneficiary must follow the binding terms of the contract.
The Board of Auditors investigated the breach of contract reported in the latest financial report.
The capital punishment law was debated in court after the charge was brought against the defendant.
Under civil law, the claimant requested a specific clause to be added to the contract.
The company agreed to pay compensation after the concurrent sentence was considered by the confederation of labor unions.
The suspect made a confession but claimed it was given without consent or understanding of the constitution.
The Constitutional Court reviewed the convict‘s case regarding copyright infringement in the courtroom.
The creditor filed a case against the debtor for committing a serious crime under criminal law.
The criminal record showed prior custody periods that affected the decree issued by the defendant‘s attorney.
The court detention order was discharged after a heated dispute over the divorce settlement.
The judge decided to enforce the evidence collected during the external audit to ensure a fair trial.
The suspect was charged with felony and had to pay a fine as advised by forensic medicine experts.
The fraud case was discussed at the general assembly before the hearing of the homicide trial.
The illegal activity led to imprisonment after the indictment under inheritance law was processed.
The injunction prevented the internal audit from revealing sensitive documents, according to the investigation report.
The joint stock company appointed a new judge to oversee the judgment regarding the judicial review of its jurisdiction.
The jury delivered a justice-based decision for the juvenile accused in accordance with labor law and law regulations.
Frequently asked questions about English Law Terms
Here are some questions asked about law terms.
What are legal maxims?
Legal maxims are short, well-established principles or sayings that express general truths or rules used in legal reasoning. They often come from Latin and have been passed down through centuries of legal tradition. These maxims serve as guiding principles for judges and lawyers when interpreting laws or making decisions.
Are English legal terms the same in every country?
Not exactly. While many legal terms come from common law systems like those in the UK and the US, their meanings and applications can vary depending on a country’s legal framework. However, knowing the general definitions provides a strong foundation for understanding international law.
What are the most common English legal terms everyone should know?
Some of the most frequently used legal terms include plaintiff, defendant, contract, liability, verdict, and evidence. These words appear in almost every legal document or courtroom discussion, making them essential for anyone studying or working in law.
How is legal English different from everyday English?
Legal English uses specialized vocabulary, formal tone, and complex sentence structures that are not common in everyday speech. It includes many Latin terms and legal phrases that express precise meanings, which is why understanding legal English requires both language and legal knowledge.
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