USA legal glossary
Browse legal terms without the giant wall of links
Explore the glossary as a cleaner catalog: search by term, filter by category, and move through paginated results instead of scanning one endless index.
Glossary categories
Start with the area of law, then drill into the term
All glossary terms
Page 1 of 67
Ability is like having your permission slip signed: if you lack it, you can’t prove you were allowed to do something important.
Absence is like when you miss school because of a fever; your absence means you might get an excused absence note instead of a demerit slip.
If you are absent from school, you miss the lesson.
It’s like a permission slip that says, 'Must be signed by Mom.' If Dad signs it instead, it isn't absolute; the whole trip might get canceled.
An absorber is like a friend promising their parent they will take on the chore instead of you.
Abuse is like using your library card to take ten books but only returning three; you broke the spirit of the rules, not just one specific rule.
It's like a hall pass that lets you skip the line at recess and get to play tag immediately instead of waiting for the bell.
Acceptance is like signing the permission slip for recess.
Access means someone has permission to use something, like getting the hall pass that lets you into the gym.
It's like when you trip on the playground; that fall is the accident.
Accommodation is like letting your friend turn in homework late because they were sick; it's adjusting the original deadline rule for them.
Think of it like your allowance tracker; it lists every time Mom gives you money (credit) or takes it away for a forgotten chore (debit).
Think of an accounting firm as the teacher who checks your homework; they promise to grade it fairly based on rules.
Accounting principles are like the agreed-upon rules on a permission slip; everyone knows that 'X' amount means something specific.
It means someone has proven they are trustworthy enough to be allowed in the big kid club.
Think of it like getting a 'VIP Pass' to a concert.
Accrual is like owing money on a permission slip; you owe it the moment you use the field trip, not just when you hand in the paper.
Think of it like a library fine: the period starts when you check out the book (the injury) even if you don't pay until next week.
Accruing is like when you borrow your friend’s video game and they start counting up the days until they can take it back; those unpaid days build...
It functions like the allowance you earn each week; even if your parent hasn't given it to you yet, you have earned that money right now.
Accrued interest is like the extra fee on your library book before you even check out the receipt; it keeps piling up daily.
Accumulation is like how your allowance grows—first you get five dollars, then next week it's seven because of interest.
Accuracy means telling the truth on your permission slip.
An accurate drawing means it matches the real garden perfectly; if it doesn't, you might lose your chance to plant there.
Need context, not just the term?
Upload the whole contract instead
BrieflyGo turns dense legal language into a report with risks, plain-English explanations, and next steps.
Glossary terms on this page are sourced from the LexPredict legal dictionary repository. LexPredict | repository | CC BY-SA 4.0