Find a Qualified Attorney Near You
Find a Qualified Attorney Near You
Search by legal issue and/or location
Enter information in one or both fields. (Required)
term:
Fault
fault n
[Anglo-French faute lack, failing, ultimately from Latin fallere to deceive, disappoint]
1 : a usually intentional act forbidden by law
;also
: a usually intentional omission to do something (as to exercise due care) required by law see also negligence compare no-fault strict liability at liability NOTE: Sometimes when fault is used in legal contexts it includes negligence, sometimes it is considered synonymous with negligence, and sometimes it is distinguished from negligence. Fault and negligence are the usual bases for liability in the law of torts.
2 : responsibility for an act or omission that causes damage or injury to another [relative degrees of ] see also comparative fault
at fault
: liable or responsible based on fault [was not at fault]