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Showing 1231 Legal Terms
Alphabetically Organized A–Z • Verified Indian Legal Context

Ab Initio

Latin Legal Terms

Latin phrase meaning 'from the beginning' or from inception.

Indian Contract Act Section 11 Latin Legal Terms

Abatement of Suit

Civil Procedure

Termination or suspension of a civil suit before judgment due to death of a party.

CPC Order 22 Civil Procedure

Abduction

Criminal Law

Forcibly compelling or deceitfully inducing any person to move from any place.

BNS Section 138 / IPC 362 Criminal Law

Abetment

Criminal Law

Instigating, conspiring, or intentionally aiding someone to commit a crime.

BNS Section 45 / IPC 107 Criminal Law

Abeyance

Administrative Law

A state of temporary disuse, suspension, or inactivity pending a future event.

Administrative Law Administrative Law

Absconding Accused

Criminal Procedure

An accused person hiding or fleeing to evade arrest or court process.

BNSS Section 84 / CrPC 82 Criminal Procedure

Absolute Privilege

Civil Law

Complete immunity from defamation lawsuits granted to statements in official settings.

Constitution Article 105 Civil Law

Acceptance

Contract Law

Unqualified assent to the exact terms of an offer, creating a binding contract.

Indian Contract Act Section 2(b) Contract Law

Accessory After the Fact

Criminal Law

Assisting an offender after a crime has been committed to help them evade justice.

BNS Section 249 Criminal Law

Accomplice

Evidence Law

A partner in crime who participates with the principal offender in an offence.

BSA Section 133 Evidence Law

Accord and Satisfaction

Contract Law

Agreement to accept a different performance to discharge an existing obligation.

Indian Contract Act Section 63 Contract Law

Accused

Criminal Procedure

A person formally charged with or suspected of committing a criminal offence.

Constitution Article 20 Criminal Procedure

Acquittal

Criminal Procedure

Formal judicial discharge of an accused after finding them not guilty of charges.

BNSS Section 255 Criminal Procedure

Act of God

Civil Law

An inevitable natural event causing damage without human intervention (Vis Major).

Tort Law & ICA Section 56 Civil Law

Actionable Claim

Property Law

Claim to an unsecured debt or beneficial interest in movable property.

TPA Section 3 Property Law

Actus Reus

Latin Legal Terms

Latin phrase for 'guilty act', representing the physical element of a crime.

Criminal Jurisprudence Latin Legal Terms

Ad Hoc

Latin Legal Terms

Latin phrase meaning 'for this specific purpose' or temporary.

Legal Practice Latin Legal Terms

Ad Idem

Latin Legal Terms

Latin phrase meaning 'meeting of minds' on the same subject matter.

Indian Contract Act Section 13 Latin Legal Terms

Ad Interim Injunction

Civil Procedure

Emergency temporary injunction granted before hearing the main application.

CPC Order 39 Civil Procedure

Adjournment

Court Procedure

Postponement of a court hearing or trial to a future specified date.

CPC Order 17 Court Procedure

Adjournment Sine Die

Court Procedure

Indefinite postponement of court proceedings without setting a resumption date.

Court Practice Court Procedure

Adjudication

Litigation Terms

The formal judicial process of resolving a legal dispute between opposing parties.

General Jurisprudence Litigation Terms

Administering Oath

Court Procedure

Formal swearing of a witness to tell the truth under penalty of perjury.

Oaths Act 1969 Court Procedure

Administrative Law

Administrative Law

Branch of law governing powers, procedures, and judicial control of executive agencies.

Constitution Articles 32 & 226 Administrative Law

Administrator

Property Law

Court-appointed manager of the estate of a person who died intestate.

Indian Succession Act 1925 Property Law

Admissibility of Evidence

Evidence Law

Legal standards determining if evidence can be presented in court.

BSA 2023 Evidence Law

Admission

Evidence Law

Voluntary statement by a party suggesting an inference as to a fact in issue.

BSA Section 15 Evidence Law

Adoption

Family Law

Legal process creating parent-child relationship between biologically unrelated persons.

HAMA 1956 / JJ Act 2015 Family Law

Adverse Possession

Property Law

Acquiring ownership of land by continuous, open, hostile possession for 12+ years.

Limitation Act Section 65 Property Law

Advocate

Litigation Terms

A qualified legal practitioner entitled to practice law under the Advocates Act 1961.

Advocates Act 1961 Litigation Terms

Advocate General

Constitutional Law

Highest legal officer of a State government appointed under Article 165.

Constitution Article 165 Constitutional Law

Advocate on Record

Litigation Terms

An advocate entitled to file pleadings and act before the Supreme Court of India.

Supreme Court Rules 2013 Litigation Terms

Affidavit

Legal Drafting

A written statement of facts voluntarily sworn or affirmed under oath.

CPC Order 19 Legal Drafting

Affirmation

Court Procedure

Solemn declaration made by a person who conscientiously objects to taking an oath.

Oaths Act 1969 Court Procedure

Age of Consent

Criminal Law

Minimum statutory age at which an individual can legally consent to sexual acts.

BNS Section 63 / POCSO Act Criminal Law

Agent

Contract Law

A person employed to act on behalf of another in dealings with third parties.

Indian Contract Act Section 182 Contract Law

Aggrieved Person

Litigation Terms

An individual whose legal rights have been directly violated or adversely affected.

CPC & Writ Practice Litigation Terms

Agreement

Contract Law

Every promise and set of promises forming consideration for each other.

Indian Contract Act Section 2(e) Contract Law

Agreement in Restraint of Legal Proceedings

Contract Law

Agreement restricting a party from enforcing contractual rights in court.

Indian Contract Act Section 28 Contract Law

Agreement in Restraint of Marriage

Contract Law

Agreement attempting to restrict the marriage of any person other than a minor.

Indian Contract Act Section 26 Contract Law

Agreement in Restraint of Trade

Contract Law

Agreement attempting to restrict anyone from exercising a lawful profession or trade.

Indian Contract Act Section 27 Contract Law

Aid and Abet

Criminal Law

Actively encouraging, supporting, or assisting someone in committing a crime.

BNS Section 45 Criminal Law

Aleatory Contract

Contract Law

Contract where performance depends upon an uncertain contingent future event.

Indian Contract Act Section 31 Contract Law

Alibi

Evidence Law

Plea by an accused that they were elsewhere at the exact time a crime occurred.

BSA Section 9 Evidence Law

Alienation of Property

Property Law

Transferring ownership, title, or interest in property from one person to another.

TPA 1882 Property Law

Alimony

Family Law

Court-ordered financial allowance paid by one spouse to another during or after divorce.

Hindu Marriage Act Section 25 Family Law

Allegation

Litigation Terms

Formal assertion or statement of fact in pleadings not yet proven in court.

CPC Order 6 Litigation Terms

Allegiance

Constitutional Law

The duty of loyalty owed by citizens to the State and Constitution of India.

Constitution Article 51A Constitutional Law

Allocation of Shares

Corporate & Commercial

Distribution or assignment of shares to applicants following a public or private issue.

Companies Act Section 39 Corporate & Commercial

Alter Ego

Corporate & Commercial

Doctrine piercing corporate veil when a company is a mere sham for an individual.

Company Law Corporate & Commercial

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Arbitration & ADR

Methods like arbitration, mediation, and conciliation to settle disputes outside court.

Arbitration Act 1996 / CPC Section 89 Arbitration & ADR

Ambiguity

Contract Law

Uncertainty or double meaning in contractual terms or statutory provisions.

BSA Section 95 Contract Law

Amicus Curiae

Latin Legal Terms

Latin phrase for 'friend of the court', an independent advisor appointed by court.

Supreme Court Practice Latin Legal Terms

Ancillary Relief

Family Law

Secondary court orders granted alongside main matrimonial decrees like custody.

Family Courts Act Family Law

Animal Welfare Laws

Environmental Law

Statutory safeguards protecting animals from unnecessary pain and cruelty.

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act Environmental Law

Annulment of Marriage

Family Law

Judicial declaration that a marriage was legally invalid from inception.

Hindu Marriage Act Section 11 Family Law

Anti-Competitive Agreement

Corporate & Commercial

Agreement restricting market competition, fixing prices, or allocating markets.

Competition Act Section 3 Corporate & Commercial

Anti-Defection Law

Constitutional Law

Constitutional provisions disqualifying legislators for changing political parties.

Tenth Schedule Constitution Constitutional Law

Anti-Money Laundering

Banking & Finance

Legal framework preventing conversion of illegally acquired proceeds into clean assets.

PMLA 2002 Banking & Finance

Anticipatory Bail

Criminal Procedure

Pre-arrest court direction protecting a person from police detention if arrested.

BNSS Section 482 / CrPC 438 Criminal Procedure

Explore by Area of Law

Browse legal terminology categorized by statutory domain and court specialization.

Criminal Law & BNS

FIRs, bail, arrest rights, non-bailable offences, BNS 2023 codes, and criminal procedure.

Constitutional Writs

Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Certiorari, Fundamental Rights, Article 32, and High Court writs.

Civil Code & Property

Injunctions, plaints, decrees, adverse possession, sale deeds, easements, and CPC rules.

Latin Maxims

Actus Reus, Mens Rea, Res Judicata, Audi Alteram Partem, Prima Facie, and locus standi.

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

Demystifying Legal Jargon for Everyone

Legal documents, police complaints, court notices, and contracts are often written in complex statutory language. NYAYI's Legal Dictionary bridges the gap between formal legal terminology and everyday plain language.

Statutory Section References (BNS 2023, BNSS, BSA, IPC, CrPC, CPC)
Hypothetical Real-World Examples for Practical Context
Direct Internal Connections to Legal Guides & Fundamental Rights
Reliable Reference

Built Around Indian Jurisprudence

Every entry in the NYAYI Dictionary is researched against active Indian statutes, Supreme Court judgments, and modern legal procedural codes.

Research with NYAYI AI

Dictionary FAQs

Common questions regarding Indian legal terminology and dictionary usage.

Are old IPC section terms still included in the dictionary?

Yes. Since historical legal documents, past court judgments, and existing legal notices frequently cite old IPC or CrPC sections, our dictionary explains both classic terminology and updated Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) & Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) equivalents.

How do I search for a term starting with a specific letter?

Click any letter (A through Z) in the top Alphabet Navigation Bar to instantly filter terms belonging to that letter. Click "ALL" to return to full view.

Does the dictionary cover Latin legal maxims used in Indian courts?

Yes. We provide dedicated coverage for Latin maxims frequently cited in Indian High Courts and the Supreme Court, including Actus Reus, Mens Rea, Res Judicata, Audi Alteram Partem, Habeas Corpus, and Mandamus.

Can I read full detailed explanations for individual terms?

Yes. Every dictionary card includes a "Read Full Explanation →" link that opens a dedicated indexable page containing statutory references, plain-language meanings, real-world examples, and related legal concepts.