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Glite Dictionary
quantum meruit

quantum meruit

9.9
A way to get fair payment for work when no price is agreed
  • noun
  • /ˈkwɒntəm ˈmɛrʊɪt/
  • Jargon
translation icon : quantum meruit
  • Without a written contract, he relied on quantum meruit to claim payment for his services.

Examples

  • The court awarded her compensation on the basis of quantum meruit for the work she had completed.

  • The contractor was paid under quantum meruit for the additional work.

  • Lawyers often use quantum meruit when clients refuse to pay for completed work.

  • Can you explain quantum meruit in simple terms?

  • The client received payment based on quantum meruit after completing a project without a formal contract.

  • He filed a claim for quantum meruit to ensure he was compensated for the hours he worked.

  • The court ruled in her favor, stating that quantum meruit justified the amount she requested for her services.

Surface Forms

quantum meruit singular
quantum meruits plural

Morphology

quantum + meruit

This is a fixed Latin legal term where one constituent ('meruit') is not an English word and the overall legal sense ('payment as much as deserved') cannot be derived from ordinary knowledge of 'quantum' alone. The phrase is specialized and idiomatic in legal contexts, so a B1 learner who knows the visible constituent(s) would not reliably infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Quantum meruit comes from old Latin words quantum and meruit, which together mean 'as much as he deserved'. In law, judges used this idea to give someone a 'fair payment' for work when there was no clear contract, so the phrase now means 'fair payment for work done'.