Legal Latin Phrases
Latin Phrase | English Meaning |
A fortiori | from stronger |
A priori | from earlier |
Ab initio | From the beginning |
Actus reus | guilty act |
Ad hominem | At the person |
Ad litem | For the case |
Amicus Curiae | Friend of the court |
Caveat emptor | Let the buyer beware |
Certiorari | To be apprised |
Contra Bonos Mores | Against good morals |
Corpus juris | Body of law |
De facto | In fact |
De Jure | According to law |
De minimus | About the smallest things |
De novo | anew |
Ejusdem generis | Of the same class |
Ex parte | From [for] one party |
Ex post | From after |
Ex post facto | From a thing after |
Ferae naturae | Wild animals by nature |
Fiat | Let it be done |
Habeas corpus | May you have the body |
In loco parentis | In the role of a parent |
In re | In the matter |
In rem | About a thing |
Infra | Below or under |
Inter alia | Among others |
Inter vivos | Between the living |
Ipse dixit | He himself said it |
Jus Soli | Right of soil |
Lex loci | The law of the place |
Lingua franca | The Frankish language |
Lis pendens | Suit pending |
Locus delicti | Place of the crime |
Mea culpa | Through my fault |
Mens rea | Guilty mind |
Modus operandi | Manner of operation |
Motion in limine | Motion at the start |
Nolle prosequi | Not to prosecute |
Nunc pro tunc | Now for then |
Per curiam | Through the court |
Per se | By itself |
Post hoc ergo propter hoc | After this, therefore because of this |
Pro bono | For good |
Pro se | For himself |
Prima facie | At first place |
Pro tem | For the time being |
Quantum meruit | As much as it deserves |
Res Ipsa Loquitur | The thing speaks for itself |
Res Judicata | A matter judged |
Stare decisis | To stand by [things] decided |
Sua sponte | Of its own accord |
Supra | Above |
Viz. | Abbreviation for videlicet, meaning “namely” |