最常用的50个法务英语单词

法律实务中最常用的50个法务英语单词/术语，涵盖合同、诉讼、公司事务等场景：

1. 合同与协议

1. Contract（合同） 

定义：Legally binding agreement between parties. 

例句：The parties signed a contract for the sale of goods.

2. Clause（条款） 

定义：Specific section of a contract. 

例句：The termination clause allows either party to end the agreement.

3. Breach（违约） 

定义：Failure to fulfill contractual obligations. 

例句：The supplier’s delay constituted a breach of contract.

4. Consideration（对价） 

定义：Value exchanged between parties in a contract. 

例句：The contract is invalid without valid consideration.

5. Indemnity（赔偿） 

定义：Compensation for harm or loss. 

例句：The indemnity clause protects against third-party claims.

6. Force Majeure（不可抗力） 

定义：Unforeseeable events excusing contractual performance. 

例句：The pandemic was invoked as a force majeure event.

7. Warranty（保证） 

定义：Promise about the quality or condition of goods/services. 

例句：The seller provided a warranty against defects.

8. Assignment（转让） 

定义：Transfer of rights/obligations to another party. 

例句：The assignment of the lease requires landlord consent.

9. Liability（责任） 

定义：Legal responsibility for actions or debts. 

例句：The company denied liability for the accident.

10. Termination（终止） 

定义：Ending a contract before its expiry. 

例句：Either party may request termination with 30 days’ notice. 

2. 诉讼与争议

11. Litigation（诉讼） 

定义：Legal dispute resolved in court. 

例句：The parties avoided litigation through mediation.

12. Plaintiff（原告） 

定义：Party initiating a lawsuit. 

例句：The plaintiff claimed damages for breach of duty.

13. Defendant（被告） 

定义：Party being sued. 

例句：The defendant filed a counterclaim.

14. Damages（损害赔偿金） 

定义：Monetary compensation for loss. 

例句：The court awarded punitive damages.

15. Injunction（禁令） 

定义：Court order to stop/prohibit an action. 

例句：The judge issued an injunction to halt construction.

16. Jurisdiction（管辖权） 

定义：Authority of a court to hear a case. 

例句：The dispute falls under New York jurisdiction.

17. Arbitration（仲裁） 

定义：Private dispute resolution outside court. 

例句：The contract requires arbitration in case of disputes.

18. Settlement（和解） 

定义：Agreement to resolve a dispute without trial. 

例句：The parties reached a confidential settlement.

19. Appeal（上诉） 

定义：Request to a higher court to review a decision. 

例句：The defendant plans to appeal the verdict.

20. Subpoena（传票） 

定义：Court order requiring testimony or evidence. 

例句：The witness received a subpoena to appear in court.* 

3. 公司事务

21. Incorporation（公司注册） 

定义：Legal process of forming a corporation. 

例句：The incorporation documents were filed with the state.

22. Shareholder（股东） 

定义：Owner of company shares. 

例句：Shareholders voted on the merger proposal.

23. Board of Directors（董事会） 

定义：Group elected to govern a corporation. 

例句：The board of directors approved the annual budget.

24. Merger（合并） 

定义：Combination of two companies into one. 

例句：The merger created a global market leader.

25. Acquisition（收购） 

定义：Purchase of one company by another. 

例句：The acquisition was completed for $1 billion.

26. Compliance（合规） 

定义：Adherence to laws and regulations. 

例句：The audit checked regulatory compliance.

27. Fiduciary Duty（信义义务） 

定义：Legal obligation to act in another’s best interest. 

例句：Directors owe a fiduciary duty to shareholders.

28. Intellectual Property (IP)（知识产权） 

定义：Legal rights over creations (e.g., patents, trademarks). 

例句：The company filed a patent to protect its IP.

29. Due Diligence（尽职调查） 

定义：Investigation before a business transaction. 

例句：Due diligence revealed potential liabilities.

30. Insolvency（破产） 

定义：Inability to pay debts. 

例句：The company entered insolvency proceedings.

4. 财产与权利

31. Lease（租赁协议） 

定义：Contract for renting property. 

例句：The tenant violated the lease terms.

32. Mortgage（抵押贷款） 

定义：Loan secured by real property.  例句：The bank foreclosed on the mortgage.

33. Trademark（商标） 

定义：Symbol/name protecting brand identity. 

例句：The trademark registration is valid for 10 years.

34. Copyright（版权） 

定义：Exclusive rights to creative works. 

例句：Copyright infringement can lead to lawsuits.

35. Easement（地役权） 

定义：Right to use another’s land for a specific purpose. 

例句：The easement allows access to the road.

5. 其他核心术语

36. Negligence（过失） 

定义：Failure to exercise reasonable care. 

例句：The driver was sued for negligence.

37. Tort（侵权） 

定义：Civil wrong causing harm (e.g., defamation). 

例句：The case involved a tort of negligence.

38. Statute（成文法） 

定义：Law passed by a legislative body. 

例句：The statute of limitations expired.

39. Precedent（判例） 

定义：Prior court decision guiding future cases. 

例句：The judge followed binding precedent.

40. Confidentiality（保密） 

定义：Obligation to keep information private. 

例句：The NDA enforces confidentiality.

41. Affidavit（宣誓书） 

定义：Written statement confirmed by oath. 

例句：The witness submitted an affidavit as evidence.

42. Lien（留置权） 

定义：Legal claim on property as security for debt. 

例句：The contractor placed a lien on the property.

43. Pro Bono（公益服务） 

定义：Legal services provided free of charge. 

例句：The attorney took the case pro bono.

44. Waiver（弃权声明） 

定义：Voluntary surrender of a right. 

例句：The employee signed a waiver of liability.

45. Notary（公证人） 

定义：Official certifying document authenticity. 

例句：The contract was notarized by a public notary.

46. Amend（修订）

定义：Formally modify a document.  例句：The parties agreed to amend the agreement.

47. Bylaws（公司章程） 

定义：Rules governing a corporation’s internal management. 

例句：The bylaws outline shareholder voting rights.

48. Escrow（第三方托管） 

定义：Funds held by a neutral third party. 

例句：The deposit was placed in escrow.

49. Subrogation（代位求偿权） 

定义：Right to pursue another’s debt after paying it. 

例句：The insurer exercised subrogation rights.

50. Force and Effect（法律效力） 

定义：Legal validity of a document. 

例句：The agreement remains in full force and effect.