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civil suit

civil suit

35 3.9
A lawsuit between people or companies to get money for harm that is not criminal
  • noun
  • /ˈsɪvəl sjuːt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : demanda civil
  • The lawyer explained that a civil suit is different from a criminal case because it seeks monetary damages rather than punishment.
  • bring a civil suit
  • file a civil suit
  • immunity from civil suits

And sure enough, she has brought all these civil suits against Trump and the Trump Organization.

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Examples

  • They wanted Mr. Miller to drop the civil suit he had filed.

  • The Wrights have officially filed their civil suit against the City of Des Moines.

    Blog text (18)
  • Now, you can file a civil suit.

  • I understand there was a civil suit against a college a few years back.

    Academic text (1993)
  • And sure enough, she has brought all these civil suits against Trump and the Trump Organization.

  • I only deal with domestic and civil suits.

  • Already, Ohio has filed civil suits against the company and its officers and employees.

    Academic text (1998)
  • In civil suits, one person or group is seeking damages from another group or person.

    Academic text (1998)
  • In a recent civil suit in Seattle, a judge suggested that some recovered-memory therapy might be overly suggestive.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Let the record reflect that we have filed a civil suit on behalf of the named plaintiffs against Arthur Denning of Pierson Pharmaceuticals.

Synonyms

lawsuit
vscivil suit
719 4.8

A person or company brings a claim to court to get a legal decision

is limited to disputes that are not criminal in nature
suit
vscivil suit
  • Formal
425 5.6

A case one person brings against another in court to get a decision

is used only for disputes that are not criminal in nature
litigation
vscivil suit
  • Specialized
119 7.7

To use the courts to settle a dispute

focuses on a single case rather than the overall legal process
civil action
vscivil suit
  • Formal
7 5.3

A legal case to get money or fix a private wrong, not a criminal case

has identical meaning but is a slightly more formal legal phrase

Antonyms

A legal case made against someone or a company for breaking the law

How Serious

class action
  • Specialized
39 4.4
civil suit
  • Specialized
35 3.9
lawsuit
719 4.8

Surface Forms

civil suit singular
civil suits plural

Morphology

civil + suit

The meaning 'a lawsuit under civil law' is directly and predictably composed from 'civil' (relating to non-criminal/public law) + 'suit' (a legal action). This straightforward adjective+noun composition follows common English and cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Civil suit pairs civil (about private people, not 'criminal' matters) and suit, an old word for a formal request in court. Imagine someone going to a judge to ask for money or help, and that picture explains why civil suit means a court case between people or companies, not a 'criminal' trial.