Legal English

1abandoned property (noun) property no longer in the possession of its owner, who does
not plan to collect or use it againThe money from the accounts should have been held for the
customers or been sent to state governments as abandoned property.

2abandonment (noun) the act of giving up something voluntarily, such as a property right or
a proposed course of action, with the intention of not reclaiming it (=asking for it to be
returned)Trademark law requires that abandonment of a trademark must be for at least three
years before another can take over use of the mark.

3abbreviation (noun) the shortened form of a word or phraseThe abbreviation J.D. is added
after her name to show that she has a law degree.

4abduct (verb) to take someone away illegally, often by using forceHezbollah's decision to
abduct the Israeli soldiers was a tactical mistake.

5abduction (noun) the illegal carrying away by force or enticing away of a person--usually
taking a child away from it's parent.A woman was arrested in connection with the abduction
of a 6-year-old boy from his home.

6abductor (noun) a person who abducts someonePolice believe she was killed by her
abductor when she tried to escape.

7abide (by) (verb) if you abide by an agreement or a law etc then you accept it an act
according to it'The Supreme Court has made its decision and I will abide by the results,' Mr
Coleman told reporters. They are abiding to national law, just like Yahoo and Google have done
previously.

8abnormally dangerous activity (noun) a job or activity that carries with it a significant risk
of harm, even if reasonable care is used (eg the handling of toxic waste, dynamiting etc)It is
at least arguable that a court might consider sewage sludge application to be an abnormally
dangerous activity. extrahazardous activity , ultrahazardous activity

9abolish (verb) to do away with, make void or destroyThe legislature voted to abolished the
tax.

10above suspicion (adjective) if you are above suspicion then you do nothing to make
people think that you have acted wrongfully or improperlyWhile there is little evidence that
the claims against her are true, all politicians need to be above suspicion.

11abscond (verb) to leave a place, usually hurriedly, with the money or property of
anotherFred’s partner absconded to Europe with $500 000 of the company’s money.

12abstain (verb) to not voteFive of the board members abstained from the vote due to
personal interest in its outcome.
13accede (verb) to become a part of a larger wholeThe United States has refused to accede
to the Protocol.

14acceleration (noun) a lender's demand for repayment of all money outstanding on the
loan before maturity, usually on the grounds of defaultThe law states that the existence of an
acceleration clause always be disclosed to the borrower.

15accept an offer (verb) to agree to the terms and conditions of an offerShareholders now
have 10 days to decide whether to accept the offer (=a statement by one party to a potential
agreement outlining their terms and/or conditions of the agreement).

16access (noun) a means of entering or approaching a placeThe recent floods have blocked
off access to our house by road.

17access (verb) to open a computer file, computer program or website etc in order to look
at or change informationI can't access the files anymore.

18accession (noun) the act of agreeing to somethingA settlement was finally reached
following Prendi's accession to Romantik's demands.

19accident (noun) something that happens which is not planned, expected or intended, and
which often causes damage or injuryHe was injured in a car accident.

20accidental (adjective) happening unexpectedly, by chance, and without intent (=not

deliberately)The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.

21accomplice (noun)

22accordingly (adverb)

23account (noun)

24accounting reference date (noun)

25accounts receivable (noun)

26accounts receivable financing (noun)

27accrue (verb)

28accrued interest (noun)

29accuse (verb)

30accused (the) (noun)

31acknowledge (verb)

32acquiesce (verb)
33acquiescence (noun)

34acquire (verb)

35acquis communautaire (noun)

36acquisition (noun)

37acquit (verb)

38acquittal (noun)

39act (noun)

40act on behalf (verb)

41acte clair (noun)

42action (noun)

43action to collect (noun)

44actionable (adjective)

45active trust (noun)

46actual (adjective)

47actual authority (noun)

48actual cash value (noun)

49actus reus (noun)

50adhere (verb)

51adjourn (verb)

52adjudicate (verb)

53adjusted gross income (noun)

54adjuster (noun)

55adjustment of debts (noun)

56administration (noun)

57administration order (noun)

58administrative law (noun)

59administrator (noun)

60admissibility (noun)

61admissible (adjective)

62admit (verb)

63adopt (verb)

64adopt (verb)

65adoption (noun)

66adultery (noun)

67advance (verb)

68advance (noun)

69advanced (adjective)

70adversary (noun)
71adversary proceeding (noun)
72adverse (adjective)
73adverse interest (noun)
74adverse possession (noun)
75advertising injury (noun)
76advice (noun)
77advise (verb)
78advocate (verb)
79advocate (noun)
80advocate general (noun)
81affect (verb)
82affidavit (noun)
83affiliate (noun)
84affirm (verb)
85affirmation (noun)
86affirmative action
87affirmative duty (noun)
88affirmative recovery (AmE) (noun)
89affix (verb)
90aforementioned (adjective)
91after-acquired (adjective)
92after-acquired property (adjective)
93aftermath (noun)
94age of majority (noun)
95agency (noun)
96agency law (noun)
97agent (noun)
98aggravated (adjective)
99aggravating circumstances (noun)
100aggregate amount (noun)
101aggregate principal amount (noun)
102aiding and abetting (noun)
103alert (verb)
104alert
105alienability (noun)
106alienable (adjective)
107alienate (verb)
108alienation (noun)
109alienation of affections (AmE) (noun)
110alimony
111allegation (noun)
112allege (verb)
113allegedly (adjective)
114allocate (verb)
115allocation (noun)
116allot (verb)
117allowance (noun)
118alternative (adjective)
119alternative dispute resolution (noun)
120ambiguity (noun)
121ambiguous (adjective)
122amend (verb)
123amendment (noun)
124amicus curiae (noun)
125amortisation (noun)
126ancillary (adjective)
127angel investor (noun)
128announce (verb)
129announcement (noun)
130annual business plan (noun)
131annual general meeting (noun)
132annual meeting (noun)
133annuity (noun)
134annul (verb)
135annulment (noun)
136antecedent (adjective)
137antenuptial agreement; prenuptial agreement (noun)
138anti-competitive (adjective)
139apparent (adjective)
140apparent authority (noun)
141appeal (noun)
142appear (verb)
143appearance (noun)
144appellant (noun)
145appellate (adjective)
146appellate court (noun)
147appellate review (noun)
148appellee (noun)
149applicable (adjective)
150application (noun)
151apply (verb)
152appoint (verb)
153apposite (adjective)
154appraisal (noun)
155appropriate (verb)
156arbiter (noun)
157arbitrage (noun)
158arbitration (noun)
159arbitrator (noun)
160arguendo (adverb)
161arising out of (phrasal verb)
162arm’s length (adjective)
163arraign (verb)
164arraignment (noun)
165arrange (verb)
166arrangement (noun)
167arranger (noun)
168arrears (noun)
169arrears (noun)
170arrest (verb)
171arrestee (noun)
172arson (noun)
173articles of association (noun)
174artificial insemination (noun)
175as is (adjective)
176assault (noun)
177assert (verb)
178assessment (noun)
179asset (noun)
180asset stripping (verb)
181asset-backed (adjective)
182assign (verb)
183assignment (noun)
184assignment (noun)
185assignor (noun)
186assisted reproductive technology (noun)
187associate (noun)
188at fault (adjective)
189attorney in fact (noun)
190attorney-client privilege (AmE) (noun)
191attractive nuisance (AmE) (noun)
192auction (verb)
193auction sale (noun)
194audit (verb)
195audit (noun)
196auditor's report (noun)
197authorisation (noun)
198authorise (verb)
199authorised shares (noun)
200authority (noun)
201automatic stay (noun)
202automatically voidable (adjective)
203avail (verb)
204availability period (noun)
205award (verb)
206award (noun)
207award damages (verb)