tortious
|tor-ti-ous|
🇺🇸
/ˈtɔrʃəs/
🇬🇧
/ˈtɔːʃəs/
relating to a civil wrong
Etymology
'tortious' originates from English formation using the noun 'tort' (from Old French 'tort'), with the adjectival suffix '-ious'. 'tort' comes ultimately from Latin 'tortum' (past participle of 'torquēre').
'tort' entered English via Old French 'tort' meaning 'wrong' or 'injury'; English formed the adjective 'tortious' by adding the Latin-derived suffix '-ious' to 'tort'.
Originally related to Latin 'tortum' meaning 'twisted' (from 'torquēre', 'to twist'), the term evolved in Old French to mean 'wrong' or 'injury' and now in English 'tortious' means 'relating to a civil wrong'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to, constituting, or involving a tort; wrongful in a civil-law sense and giving rise to civil liability.
The court found the company's conduct tortious and awarded damages to the claimant.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/30 18:37