Legal glossary category
Legal Terminology
Browse 141 glossary entries in the Legal Terminology category, with short plain-English descriptions and direct links to the full term pages.
pool
Imagine a 'pool' as a shared space where different things—like money, people, or rights—are gathered together for a specific purpose.
Open term →pooling servicing
Imagine a big company that takes care of many different customers' needs all at once.
Open term →position
Imagine 'position' as where you stand in a legal game—like being first or last on a team, or the specific spot a person holds in a lawsuit.
Open term →predecessor
Imagine someone who came before you in the timeline of events.
Open term →preemptive
It means doing something right now to stop a bad thing from happening later.
Open term →preferred
Imagine 'preferred' as the best option when you have choices.
Open term →premium
Imagine paying extra money for something important, like getting a special deal or a better service.
Open term →prescribed
Imagine a rule that says something must be done.
Open term →preserve
Imagine 'preserve' as making sure something important—like a right or a document—is kept safe and protected so it doesn't get lost or damaged durin...
Open term →prevailing
Imagine a judge or lawyer saying that one side (like the plaintiff) has won or is right, meaning their argument or claim is the strongest and most...
Open term →primary
Imagine 'primary' as the main thing in a rulebook or a lawsuit.
Open term →prime
Imagine 'prime' as the very best or first thing—like the main rule or the most important part of a deal.
Open term →principal
Imagine 'principal' as the main person who is in charge of something important, like the main boss or the main person making the decision in a laws...
Open term →principal place of business
It means the main office or location where a company's headquarters or primary operational base is established, which is crucial for determining ju...
Open term →principles
Think of 'principles' as the basic, core rules of the game—the main ideas that tell you how to solve a problem or what the most important rules are...
Open term →prior notice
It means telling someone ahead of time about something important—like saying 'here is the notice'—so that the other person knows exactly what happe...
Open term →prior occurrence
Imagine something that happened *before* something else.
Open term →privacy
Privacy means that a person has the right to decide who sees their personal details, like their name, address, or health records, and how those det...
Open term →privilege
Imagine a special rule where certain conversations or actions are so important that the courts agree not to look at them or question them.
Open term →privileged information
Imagine this is secret information that the law says must be kept safe.
Open term →pro rata
Imagine you have a pie, and 'pro rata' means figuring out how much of the pie each person gets based on their share.
Open term →procedure
A 'procedure' is a set of defined steps that must be followed in order to complete a task or achieve a goal under the rules of law or contract.
Open term →procure
It means to get something you need by making a deal or asking for it legally.
Open term →professional
A person who is highly skilled and qualified to do a job or perform a task, usually through education or experience.
Open term →program
Imagine a 'program' is like a set of instructions or a plan that tells everyone exactly what to do and how to do it to solve a problem or achieve a...
Open term →prohibited
It means something is totally 'not allowed' or 'forbidden.' Think of a rule that says, 'This action is prohibited,' meaning you can't do it.
Open term →promotional
Imagine 'promotional' as trying to get something good for the law—like getting a judge to agree with your argument or getting a company to offer a...
Open term →proper
Imagine 'proper' means doing exactly what you are supposed to do.
Open term →proportion
Imagine 'proportion' as figuring out how much one thing is compared to another thing, like deciding that one piece of the pie is a certain fraction...
Open term →proportionate
Imagine 'proportionate' means that something is exactly the right amount for what it should be.
Open term →published
Imagine 'published' means that a rule or decision has been officially announced and made public so everyone knows it.
Open term →punitive
Imagine 'punitive' means that when someone has done something wrong (like in a lawsuit), they are looking for more money than just the actual loss.
Open term →qualification
It means that a person has met all the required tests or conditions so that they are officially allowed to have a certain position or right in a le...
Open term →quantity
It means a specific number or amount.
Open term →rata
Imagine 'rata' as a specific rule for how much one thing relates to another thing.
Open term →rate
Imagine 'rate' as the price tag for something—like how much a lawyer charges for an hour of work, or the speed at which a legal requirement needs t...
Open term →realization
Imagine realizing something important in a court case.
Open term →reasonable cost
It means that the money spent on something is fair and justified according to the rules or expectations set by the law or contract.
Open term →reasonable efforts
It means making a good, careful effort to do what is needed or expected by the law, like trying your best to fix a problem or find a solution when...
Open term →reasonable time
It means a fair amount of time allowed before something happens, like waiting for a judge to make a decision or giving someone enough time to fix a...
Open term →recipient
Imagine 'recipient' as the person or thing that gets what is being sent or addressed in a legal situation.
Open term →reclassification
Imagine you have something that was originally called 'A' but now needs to be officially changed to 'B'.
Open term →recommended
It means suggesting the best or most suitable option when making a decision in a legal setting, like suggesting which contract clause should be fol...
Open term →redacted
Imagine you have a long paper, and someone decides to cover up some words or sections so that only the most important parts are visible.
Open term →refuse
Imagine you have a rule that says something is forbidden; 'refuse' means deciding to say 'no' to that rule or demand.
Open term →registration rights
Imagine you have the right to officially put your name or something important onto a list or record.
Open term →registry
Imagine it's like a master list where you officially record important things, like the names of companies, patents, or official documents.
Open term →regular
Imagine 'regular' as the standard way things are supposed to happen.
Open term →regulatory
It means the official rules or laws that tell people exactly what to do or not to do in business.
Open term →related
If something is 'related,' it means there is a connection between things.
Open term →related party
Imagine someone who is closely connected to the main person in a legal case or agreement.
Open term →related person
Imagine someone who is closely connected to the main person in a legal case or agreement.
Open term →relationship
A relationship is how people or things connect—like a family relationship or a business relationship.
Open term →relevant
Imagine 'relevant' means that the piece of information you are looking at actually matters to the case.
Open term →repair
Imagine you have broken something—like a broken leg or a leaky pipe.
Open term →reportable event
Imagine a situation where something important happens—like a big problem or a major change—that needs to be officially reported.
Open term →reporting period
Imagine a set period of time, like a month or a year, that is used to look at the results.
Open term →representation
Imagine you are officially chosen to speak for someone in court or a contract.
Open term →reputable
It means someone is trustworthy and good enough to rely on, like a reliable person or company when making a deal or trusting a legal process.
Open term →rescinded
Imagine you had a promise or a decision, and now someone officially says, 'That promise is officially taken back.' It means the original agreement...
Open term →residual
Imagine you have a game where the rules say that if you win, but there's still some prize money left over after paying all the debts.
Open term →resource
Imagine a resource as something important that you need to use to win a game or complete a task.
Open term →response
Imagine you are asked a question in court; the 'response' is your official answer or reply to that question.
Open term →restated
Imagine you have a rule or a promise, and someone says 'restated'—that means they are saying the rule or promise again, but maybe in a clearer way.
Open term →retained
Imagine you are deciding to *keep* something important for yourself in a legal situation, like choosing to keep a client's file or a piece of prope...
Open term →retention
Imagine you have a rule that says you must keep certain papers or information for a set amount of time.
Open term →risk
Risk means the chance that something bad might happen, like losing money or facing trouble in a lawsuit.
Open term →risk retention
Imagine you have a big problem (a 'risk') and instead of fixing it right away, you decide to keep it—maybe because keeping it helps your overall pl...
Open term →rule or regulation
Imagine a 'rule' or 'regulation' as a set of official instructions that tell people exactly what they must do or what is allowed in a legal situation.
Open term →rules and regulations
Imagine 'rules and regulations' as the official playbook for how to play a game or run a business.
Open term →safety
Safety means making sure things are safe so that people don't get hurt.
Open term →satisfaction
Imagine 'satisfaction' as feeling happy after you get what you wanted or needed.
Open term →schedule
A schedule is like a detailed list of when things need to happen or when they *will* happen, making sure everyone knows exactly what needs to be do...
Open term →scope
Imagine 'scope' as the exact area or range of something—like how much space a rule covers or what part of a contract is covered by a specific clause.
Open term →secret
Imagine a secret is like a special piece of information that only a few people know about, and it's important enough to keep hidden.
Open term →series
Imagine 'series' as a specific, ordered list of things—like a sequence of steps in a lawsuit or a series of required disclosures.
Open term →service provider
A 'service provider' is the person or company that offers something—like a service, a product, or a professional action—to someone else.
Open term →settlement
Imagine when two people disagree over something, and instead of fighting in court for a long time, they agree on a solution that settles the issue.
Open term →shelf
Imagine a shelf in a library; it's a designated space where books can sit.
Open term →short
Imagine 'short' means that something is very brief or quick.
Open term →significant
Imagine something is so important that it really matters in a court case or a contract.
Open term →simple
Imagine something that is very easy to understand, like a basic rule or a simple agreement.
Open term →single
Imagine 'single' means there is only one thing—like one specific contract, one plaintiff, or one defined party.
Open term →sole
Imagine 'sole' means that one person has all the power or the only right to do something, like being the only person who can sign a contract or be...
Open term →sole discretion
Imagine this means that one person has the *only* right to decide something—like deciding who gets to use a certain resource or making a final deci...
Open term →solicit
Imagine you are asking someone to do something specific, like asking a friend to help you find the best deal for a product.
Open term →special
Imagine 'special' as a very important or unique thing in a rulebook.
Open term →spread
Imagine 'spread' as how much space a rule covers.
Open term →staff
Imagine 'staff' as all the people who work for a company or a legal firm—like the lawyers, paralegals, and employees who are needed to do the job.
Open term →standard
Imagine 'standard' as the basic, agreed-upon rule in a game.
Open term →statistical
Imagine 'statistical' as the way lawyers look at numbers and facts to see if something is likely to happen, like figuring out the percentage chance...
Open term →status
Imagine 'status' as checking if something is okay or not okay right now.
Open term →stolen
Imagine something that belongs to someone else but is taken without permission.
Open term →storage
Imagine 'storage' as the place where you put things—like a safe or a shelf.
Open term →strict
Imagine 'strict' means following rules exactly as they are written, with no room for error.
Open term →structure
Imagine a structure is like the blueprint for a building; it shows how all the parts fit together—like the main walls, the roof, and the rooms.
Open term →substance
Imagine 'substance' as the real, important part of something.
Open term →substantial completion
Imagine a big project is finished, but not perfectly perfect.
Open term →substantially all
Imagine you have a big pile of toys.
Open term →substitute
Imagine you have a rule that says 'substitute' means swapping out one person or thing for another.
Open term →sufficient
Imagine 'sufficient' means having enough good stuff—like enough evidence or enough money—to win a legal argument or meet a rule.
Open term →supplement
Imagine 'supplement' as adding something extra to a rulebook or contract.
Open term →support
It means providing the necessary help or backing for something important in law, like proving a right or fulfilling a duty.
Open term →surety
Imagine a 'surety' is like a person who promises to make sure something important gets done, like making sure a debt is paid or that a contract obl...
Open term →surplus
Imagine you have too much stuff after you've taken all the necessary items for a project.
Open term →surveillance
Imagine 'surveillance' as watching something closely.
Open term →survey
Imagine taking a careful look at something—like checking a building's structure or an area's condition—to see exactly what it is and how it is in t...
Open term →tangible
Imagine something that is real and solid.
Open term →technical
Imagine something that needs to be super exact about how it works or what it is.
Open term →technology
Technology means using clever ideas or tools—like computers or software—to do something important.
Open term →temporary
It means something lasts for a short time, like a temporary stop or a brief period of time before a permanent change occurs.
Open term →termination date
Imagine this is the exact date written down in a legal paper that says 'The job ends on this day.' It's the official date when something legally st...
Open term →third party
Imagine someone who isn't the main person in a lawsuit; they are just another person involved in the legal battle.
Open term →threatened
Imagine someone says 'threatened' when they mean there is a real danger that something bad might happen according to the rules of the law.
Open term →total
Imagine 'total' means adding up every single thing—like counting all the pieces on a board or calculating the grand total cost of a purchase.
Open term →transition
Imagine 'transition' as the moment when something official changes—like switching from one type of job to another, or changing the rules of a contr...
Open term →treated
Imagine something that has been officially handled or dealt with according to a set rule or procedure.
Open term →treatment
Imagine 'treatment' as the official way to fix something broken or wrong in a legal situation.
Open term →trigger
Imagine a rule or an event that starts something important.
Open term →trust
Imagine a 'trust' as a formal agreement where someone promises to manage assets for someone else.
Open term →trust account
Imagine a special bank account set aside specifically for someone else's money.
Open term →trust certificate
Imagine it's a special paper that proves that a certain 'trust'—a set of rules for how assets are managed or held—is officially valid and recognize...
Open term →unconditional
Imagine something where you say 'unconditional'—it means that the rule or agreement is totally solid.
Open term →uniform
Imagine 'uniform' as the basic rule that everyone must follow.
Open term →unit
Imagine a 'unit' is like one piece of a puzzle.
Open term →unlawful
Imagine something that breaks the rules of the law.
Open term →updated
Imagine you have a rulebook, and someone says 'updated.' This means the book has been changed to include the newest rules or information.
Open term →utility
Imagine 'utility' as the right to use something important, like the right to use electricity or the right to use a specific piece of land.
Open term →valuable
Imagine something that is worth a lot of money or importance in a legal case.
Open term →value
Imagine 'value' as how much something is worth in a legal sense.
Open term →voluntary
It means choosing to do something because you really want to, not because someone forced you to.
Open term →waste
Imagine 'waste' as something that is left over after you've used up everything.
Open term →whole
Imagine 'whole' as meaning everything is included—no missing pieces!
Open term →willful
Imagine 'willful' means someone *really* decided to do something, and they knew exactly what they were doing.
Open term →withhold
Imagine you have a rule that says some things must be kept aside or held back.
Open term →without cause
Imagine something happened, but no one can prove *why* it happened legally.
Open term →without recourse
Imagine someone says 'without recourse' when they mean that the person who caused a problem (like a loss) can be completely excused from paying or...
Open term →writing
Writing is when you take words and put them down on paper, like writing a letter or a contract.
Open term →written consent
Imagine it's when someone officially says 'yes' in writing to what needs to happen.
Open term →written notice
It means writing down a formal message to tell someone something important, like saying 'this is the official notice' about a situation or decision.
Open term →yield
Imagine you have a game where you try to get the best score or prize.
Open term →