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Gravamen: meaning, definitions and examples

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gravamen

 

[ ˈgrævəmənt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

legal term

Gravamen refers to the essential grievance or complaint in a legal context. It is the substantial part of a claim or complaint that describes the nature of the grievance for which relief is sought. In essence, it outlines the key issues that the complaining party is raising. Understanding the gravamen of a case is crucial for legal practitioners when assessing the validity of a claim or determining the appropriate course of action.

Synonyms

complaint, grievance, issue

Examples of usage

  • The gravamen of the lawsuit was negligence.
  • She clearly articulated the gravamen of her complaint during the hearing.
  • The gravamen of the appeal was based on procedural errors.

Translations

Translations of the word "gravamen" in other languages:

🇵🇹 gravame

🇮🇳 ग्रेवामेन

🇩🇪 Gravamen

🇮🇩 gravamen

🇺🇦 гравамен

🇵🇱 gravamen

🇯🇵 グラバメン

🇫🇷 gravamen

🇪🇸 gravamen

🇹🇷 gravamen

🇰🇷 그라바멘

🇸🇦 غرافيمن

🇨🇿 gravamen

🇸🇰 gravamen

🇨🇳 重心

🇸🇮 gravamen

🇮🇸 gravamen

🇰🇿 гравамен

🇬🇪 გრავამენი

🇦🇿 gravamen

🇲🇽 gravamen

Word origin

The term 'gravamen' originates from Latin, specifically from the word 'gravamen', which means 'burden'. In its legal context, it has been used since the 16th century to denote the substance of a complaint or the chief issue in a case. The transition from Latin to English reflects the incorporation of legal terminology from ancient languages into modern legal systems. Initially used in ecclesiastical law, it soon found its way into civil law, emphasizing its importance in defining the core aspects of grievances in legal proceedings. The historical usage of gravamen highlights the evolution of legal discourse and the need for precision in articulating the principal issues at stake in judicial matters.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,352 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.