plaintiff
/ˈpleɪntəf/The person who brings a legal case against someone else in court.
Example: The plaintiff claimed the company had ignored safety rules.
B114 words · Intermediate
Legal English vocabulary — B1
Legal English vocabulary for a courtroom case, including the plaintiff, defendant, witness testimony and the verdict that ends a lawsuit.
14 questions
Words in this set
14defendant
/dɪˈfɛndənt/The person accused of a crime or being sued in a court case.
Example:
The defendant denied all the charges.
testimony
/ˈtɛstəˌmoʊni/A formal statement given by a witness in court, usually under oath.
Example:
Her testimony convinced the jury of his innocence.
verdict
/ˈvɜrdɪkt/The official decision made by a jury or judge at the end of a trial.
Example:
The jury reached a verdict after six hours.
lawsuit
/ˈlɔˌsut/A legal case brought by one person or organisation against another in a civil court.
Example:
The customer filed a lawsuit after being injured by the product.
litigation
/ˌlɪtəˈɡeɪʃən/The process of taking a disagreement to court to be settled legally.
Example:
The two firms settled before litigation began.
affidavit
/ˌæfəˈdeɪvət/A written statement that a person swears is true, used as evidence in court.
Example:
She signed an affidavit confirming she witnessed the accident.
witness
/ˈwɪtnəs/A person who saw something happen and can describe it in court.
Example:
The witness described the car's colour to the jury.
evidence
/ˈɛvədəns/Facts, objects or documents that help prove something is true in court.
Example:
The lawyer presented new evidence to support her client's case.
contract
/ˈkɑnˌtrækt/A written or spoken agreement between people that can be enforced by law.
Example:
Both companies signed the contract before starting the project.
court
/kɔrt/The place where legal cases are heard and decided.
Example:
The case reached court four years after the accident.
judge
/dʒʌdʒ/The official who decides a case in court.
Example:
The judge asked one question and everyone understood the outcome.
appeal
/əˈpil/A request for a higher court to change a decision.
Example:
The appeal was lodged within the fourteen days allowed.
clause
/klɔz/A particular part of a written legal agreement.
Example:
The whole dispute turned on one clause about notice.
