Latin Legal Terms: A to Z Glossary of 153 Terms
Latin legal terms are short Latin phrases that lawyers, judges, and courts use as precise shorthand for complex legal ideas. They survive from Roman law because each one names a concept exactly: habeas corpus (“you shall have the body”) forces a court to test whether a detention is lawful, mens rea (“guilty mind”) names the intent behind a crime, and stare decisis (“to stand by things decided”) binds courts to precedent. This glossary lists 153 of the terms you will meet in law school, casebooks, the courtroom, and the bar exam, each with its literal translation and a plain-English meaning.
Latin runs through the language of the law. Learning these phrases removes a stumbling block from reading cases, briefs, and statutes, and it is part of the wider legal terminology that every law student builds over time. Many of the terms below are tested directly on the bar exam.
Why do lawyers and judges still use Latin?
Lawyers and judges use Latin because each term is precise, settled shorthand for a doctrine that would otherwise take a full sentence to state. The phrases survive from Roman law and centuries of common-law practice, so courts across jurisdictions read them the same way. That shared vocabulary makes legal writing shorter, clearer, and more exact.
The precision is the point. A single phrase like res ipsa loquitur carries an entire rule of negligence law that judges and lawyers recognize instantly. Replacing it with plain English would take a paragraph and risk losing the exact meaning courts have settled on.
The tradition is old and deep. Roman law shaped the European legal systems that English common law drew from, and English law carried the Latin into American courts. Centuries of landmark decisions use these terms, so they remain the working vocabulary of the profession.
Which Latin legal terms are most important to know?
The most important Latin legal terms include mens rea and actus reus in criminal law, res ipsa loquitur and respondeat superior in tort law, consensus ad idem in contract law, and stare decisis, certiorari, and habeas corpus in constitutional and appellate practice. These appear constantly in casebooks, judicial opinions, and on the bar exam.
A small set of terms does most of the work. Mastering the core phrases in criminal law, tort law, and contract law lets a student read most first-year cases without stumbling. The rest of the glossary fills in the terms that appear less often but still matter.
Focus your study where the terms cluster. Criminal law leans on intent and act terms, tort law on liability and causation terms, and contract law on agreement and formation terms. Working them into your bar preparation early pays off, because the exam assumes you already know them.
A to Z glossary of Latin legal terms
This glossary defines 153 Latin legal terms in alphabetical order, each with its literal translation and its meaning in law. Use the alphabet links below to jump to a letter. The list covers the terms you meet in law school, casebooks, the courtroom, and the bar exam, from a fortiori to volenti non fit injuria.
Jump to: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V
A
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| a fortiori | “from the stronger” | If one thing is true, a related but stronger case is even more certainly true. |
| a posteriori | “from what comes after” | Reasoning from observed facts or experience. |
| a priori | “from what comes before” | Reasoning from general principles, independent of experience. |
| ab initio | “from the beginning” | From the start; a contract void ab initio was never valid. |
| actus reus | “guilty act” | The physical act or conduct that makes up a crime. |
| ad hoc | “for this” | Created for one specific purpose; improvised or temporary. |
| ad hominem | “to the person” | Attacking the person rather than answering their argument. |
| ad litem | “for the suit” | Appointed to act in a lawsuit for someone who cannot, as with a guardian ad litem. |
| ad valorem | “according to value” | A tax or duty charged as a percentage of value. |
| affidavit | “he has sworn” | A written statement of fact made under oath. |
| amicus curiae | “friend of the court” | A non-party who gives the court information or argument on a case. |
| animus | “mind, intent” | A person’s intention, as in animus testandi, the intent to make a will. |
| ante | “before” | Before; an antenuptial agreement is made before marriage. |
| arguendo | “for the sake of argument” | Assuming a point only for argument, without conceding it. |
B
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| bona fide | “in good faith” | Genuine and sincere, without intent to deceive. |
| bona vacantia | “vacant goods” | Ownerless property that passes to the state. |
C
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| casus belli | “case for war” | An act or event used to justify war. |
| caveat | “let him beware” | A formal warning or notice to pause a proceeding. |
| caveat emptor | “let the buyer beware” | The buyer bears the risk of defects they could have inspected for. |
| certiorari | “to be informed” | A higher court’s order to review a lower court’s decision. |
| ceteris paribus | “other things equal” | All else being equal. |
| compos mentis | “in control of the mind” | Of sound mind; mentally competent. |
| consensus ad idem | “agreement to the same” | A meeting of the minds; mutual agreement on contract terms. |
| contra proferentem | “against the one offering” | An ambiguous contract term is read against the party that drafted it. |
| corpus delicti | “body of the crime” | Proof that a crime actually took place. |
| corpus juris | “body of law” | The complete body of laws of a jurisdiction. |
| cui bono | “to whose benefit” | Asking who gains, as a clue to who is responsible. |
| culpa | “fault” | Fault or negligence. |
D
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| de facto | “in fact” | Existing in practice, even without official or legal status. |
| de jure | “by law” | Existing by legal right or official recognition. |
| de minimis | “about the smallest things” | Too trivial for the law to concern itself with. |
| de novo | “anew” | Starting fresh; a trial de novo is a completely new trial. |
| dictum | “a saying” | A judge’s remark that is not essential to the decision. |
| doli incapax | “incapable of wrong” | The presumption that a young child cannot form criminal intent. |
| donatio mortis causa | “gift because of death” | A gift made in expectation of imminent death. |
| duces tecum | “bring with you” | A subpoena duces tecum orders a person to produce documents. |
E
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| ejusdem generis | “of the same kind” | General words after a list are limited to the same class as the listed items. |
| erga omnes | “toward all” | Rights or duties owed toward everyone. |
| et al. | “and others” | And other people, used to shorten a list of parties. |
| et seq. | “and the following” | And the sections that follow, used in citations. |
| ex aequo et bono | “from what is fair and good” | Deciding by fairness rather than strict law. |
| ex ante | “from before” | Based on a forecast, before the event. |
| ex gratia | “out of grace” | Done as a favor, without admitting legal liability. |
| ex officio | “by virtue of office” | By virtue of holding a particular office or position. |
| ex parte | “from one side” | A proceeding brought by one party without the other present. |
| ex post facto | “after the fact” | A law applied retroactively; barred in U.S. criminal cases. |
| exempli gratia (e.g.) | “for the sake of example” | For example. |
F
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| felo de se | “felon of himself” | An archaic term for suicide. |
| ferae naturae | “of a wild nature” | Wild animals, as opposed to domesticated ones. |
| fiat | “let it be done” | An authoritative order or decree. |
| forum non conveniens | “an unsuitable forum” | A court’s power to decline a case better heard elsewhere. |
| functus officio | “having discharged its office” | An official or body whose authority over a matter has ended. |
G
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| gravamen | “the weight” | The essential grievance at the heart of a complaint. |
| guardian ad litem | “guardian for the suit” | A person appointed to represent another’s interests in litigation. |
H
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| habeas corpus | “you shall have the body” | A court order to bring a detainee before a judge to test the legality of detention. |
| hostis humani generis | “enemy of mankind” | A party, such as a pirate, treated as an enemy of all nations. |
I
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| ibid. | “in the same place” | In the same source just cited. |
| in absentia | “in absence” | Conducted without a party being present. |
| in camera | “in a chamber” | Held in private, outside open court. |
| in extremis | “in extreme circumstances” | At the point of death, or in a dire situation. |
| in flagrante delicto | “in blazing crime” | Caught in the act of committing an offense. |
| in forma pauperis | “in the manner of a pauper” | Permission to proceed without paying court fees due to poverty. |
| in limine | “at the threshold” | A motion in limine asks for a pre-trial ruling to exclude evidence. |
| in loco parentis | “in the place of a parent” | Acting with the responsibilities of a parent, as a school does. |
| in pari delicto | “in equal fault” | When both parties are equally at fault. |
| in personam | “against the person” | A legal action directed at a specific person. |
| in re | “in the matter of” | Concerning; used in the names of cases with no opposing parties. |
| in rem | “against the thing” | A legal action directed at property rather than a person. |
| in situ | “in position” | In its original place. |
| infra | “below” | Below; refers the reader to a later point in a document. |
| inter alia | “among other things” | Among other things. |
| inter vivos | “between the living” | A transfer made during the giver’s lifetime. |
| intra vires | “within the powers” | Within one’s legal authority; the opposite of ultra vires. |
| ipse dixit | “he himself said it” | An assertion backed only by the speaker’s own authority. |
| ipso facto | “by the fact itself” | By that very fact; as an automatic consequence. |
J
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| jurat | “he swears” | The clause showing when, where, and before whom an affidavit was sworn. |
| jus (ius) | “law, right” | Law, or a legal right. |
| jus cogens | “compelling law” | Fundamental principles of international law that allow no exception. |
| jus gentium | “law of nations” | The body of law common to all peoples; early international law. |
| jus sanguinis | “right of blood” | Citizenship determined by a parent’s nationality. |
| jus soli | “right of soil” | Citizenship determined by place of birth. |
L
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| lex | “law” | Law. |
| lex fori | “law of the forum” | The law of the place where the case is heard. |
| lex loci | “law of the place” | The law of the place where the relevant events happened. |
| lis pendens | “suit pending” | Notice that a lawsuit is pending over a piece of property. |
| locus standi | “place of standing” | A party’s right to bring a case, also called standing. |
M
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| mala fide | “in bad faith” | In bad faith; dishonestly. |
| malum in se | “wrong in itself” | An act that is inherently wrong, such as murder. |
| malum prohibitum | “wrong because prohibited” | An act wrong only because a law forbids it. |
| mandamus | “we command” | A court order compelling an official to perform a legal duty. |
| mens rea | “guilty mind” | The criminal intent or mental state required for a crime. |
| modus operandi | “method of operating” | A characteristic, repeated way of doing something. |
| mutatis mutandis | “the necessary changes being made” | With the necessary changes applied. |
N
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| ne exeat | “let him not leave” | An order stopping a person from leaving the jurisdiction. |
| nemo dat quod non habet | “no one gives what he lacks” | One cannot transfer better title to property than one owns. |
| nemo judex in causa sua | “no one a judge in his own cause” | No one should judge a case in which they have a personal interest. |
| nisi | “unless” | Taking effect unless a condition is met, as in a decree nisi. |
| nolle prosequi | “unwilling to pursue” | A prosecutor’s formal decision to drop a charge. |
| nolo contendere | “I do not wish to contest” | A no-contest plea: accept the penalty without admitting guilt. |
| non compos mentis | “not master of one’s mind” | Not of sound mind; mentally incompetent. |
| non est factum | “it is not my deed” | A defense that the signer did not understand the document signed. |
| nota bene (N.B.) | “note well” | Take careful note. |
| nudum pactum | “naked promise” | A promise unenforceable for lack of consideration. |
| nunc pro tunc | “now for then” | A ruling applied retroactively to correct an earlier record. |
O
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| obiter dictum | “said in passing” | A judge’s remark not essential to the decision and not binding. |
| onus probandi | “burden of proving” | The burden of proof on a disputed fact. |
P
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| parens patriae | “parent of the nation” | The state’s role as guardian of those who cannot protect themselves. |
| pari passu | “on equal footing” | Equally and without preference, often among creditors. |
| pendente lite | “while the suit is pending” | During the litigation, as with temporary support orders. |
| per capita | “by head” | Per person; divided equally among individuals. |
| per curiam | “by the court” | An unsigned opinion issued by the court as a whole. |
| per se | “by itself” | Inherently; by its very nature. |
| per stirpes | “by branch” | Distributing an estate by family branch. |
| persona non grata | “an unwelcome person” | A person, often a diplomat, who is no longer welcome. |
| prima facie | “at first sight” | Evidence strong enough to establish a fact unless it is rebutted. |
| pro bono | “for the good” | Legal work done voluntarily and free of charge. |
| pro forma | “as a matter of form” | Done as a formality. |
| pro hac vice | “for this occasion” | A lawyer admitted to handle one specific case in a jurisdiction. |
| pro rata | “in proportion” | Calculated proportionally. |
| pro se | “for oneself” | Representing oneself in court without a lawyer. |
| pro tempore (pro tem) | “for the time being” | Temporarily; for the time being. |
Q
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| quantum meruit | “as much as he earned” | Reasonable payment for services where no price was agreed. |
| quasi | “as if” | Resembling but not exactly, as in a quasi-contract. |
| qui tam | “who as well” | A suit brought by a private whistleblower on the government’s behalf. |
| quid pro quo | “something for something” | An exchange of one thing for another. |
| quo warranto | “by what authority” | A proceeding challenging a person’s right to an office or power. |
R
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| ratio decidendi | “the reason for deciding” | The binding legal principle behind a decision. |
| res | “thing, matter” | A thing or matter at issue. |
| res ipsa loquitur | “the thing speaks for itself” | Negligence inferred from the very nature of an accident. |
| res judicata | “a matter decided” | A matter finally decided that cannot be relitigated. |
| res nullius | “nobody’s thing” | Property owned by no one. |
| respondeat superior | “let the superior answer” | An employer is liable for an employee’s acts within their duties. |
S
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| scienter | “knowingly” | Knowledge of wrongdoing; guilty knowledge. |
| se defendendo | “in self-defense” | In the act of defending oneself. |
| seriatim | “in series” | One after another; point by point. |
| sine die | “without a day” | Adjourned with no future date set. |
| sine qua non | “without which, not” | An essential condition; something indispensable. |
| situs | “the place” | The location of property for legal purposes. |
| stare decisis | “to stand by things decided” | The duty of courts to follow precedent. |
| status quo | “the state in which” | The existing state of affairs. |
| sua sponte | “of its own accord” | An action a court takes on its own initiative. |
| sub judice | “under a judge” | A matter currently under judicial consideration. |
| subpoena | “under penalty” | A court order to appear or produce evidence, enforced by penalty. |
| sui generis | “of its own kind” | Unique; in a class of its own. |
| supra | “above” | Above; refers the reader to an earlier point in a document. |
T
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| terra nullius | “nobody’s land” | Land treated as belonging to no one. |
U
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| uberrima fides | “utmost good faith” | A duty of complete honesty, as in insurance contracts. |
| ultra vires | “beyond the powers” | An act beyond one’s legal authority, making it void. |
V
| Term | Literal translation | Meaning in law |
|---|---|---|
| versus (v.) | “against” | Against; separates the parties in a case name. |
| vel non | “or not” | Or not; whether or not something applies. |
| videlicet (viz.) | “it is permitted to see” | Namely; that is to say. |
| voir dire | “to speak the truth” | Preliminary questioning of jurors or witnesses to test their fitness. |
| volenti non fit injuria | “to a willing person no injury is done” | One who freely accepts a risk cannot later claim injury from it. |
About this glossary: Definitions follow standard US legal usage and were checked against established legal-reference works, including Black’s Law Dictionary and the Cornell Legal Information Institute’s Wex, and against the academic reference Essential Latin for Lawyers (Carolina Academic Press). Translations are of the underlying Latin; usage and exact meaning can vary by jurisdiction and context, and a few entries (for example felo de se and doli incapax) are chiefly historical or non-US. This is a terminology reference; for the doctrines behind the terms, see the linked practice-area pages. Reviewed by Lexinter Law Directory. Report a correction.
