This list includes 49 legal terms that start with N, spanning from “Natural justice” to “Nunc pro tunc”. You’ll find courtroom concepts, procedural phrases, and doctrine names useful for study and reference.
Legal terms that start with N are entries used in statutes, cases, and legal writing worldwide. For example, “natural justice” shaped procedural fairness doctrines across common-law jurisdictions.
Below you’ll find the table with the columns: “Term”, “Definition”, “Etymology”, “Jurisdiction”, and “Example”.
Term: Shows the legal word or phrase in quotes so you can locate and reference the entry quickly.
Definition: Gives a concise legal definition in one or two sentences so you understand essential meaning and usage.
Etymology: Provides word origins and roots, helping you see historical development and language influences.
Jurisdiction: Notes the legal system or country where the term commonly appears so you know applicable contexts.
Example: Offers a brief example or note showing practical use, precedent, or common phrasing for clarity.
Legal terms that start with N
| Term | Part of Speech | Meaning | Etymology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Negligence | noun | Failure to take reasonable care causing harm | Latin negligentia 16th century |
| Negligence per se | doctrine | Violation of statute that automatically proves negligence | Latin per se meaning by itself |
| Negotiable instrument | noun | Signed transferable document promising payment | French negotiable 17th century |
| Negotiation | noun | Process of reaching agreement between parties | Latin negotiari meaning to do business |
| Nolle prosequi | phrase | Prosecutor’s formal withdrawal of charges | Latin nolle prosequi meaning be unwilling to pursue |
| Nolo contendere | plea | I do not wish to contend plea avoiding admission | Latin nolo contendere 19th century usage |
| Non est factum | defense | Claim contract is void due to fundamental mistake | Latin non est factum meaning it is not my deed |
| Nonfeasance | noun | Failure to perform an act required by law | Latin non and facere to do |
| Noncompete agreement | noun | Contract limiting post-employment competition | Latin non and compete English 19th century |
| Non-disclosure agreement | noun | Contract to keep information confidential | English non and disclosure 20th century |
| Nonsuit | noun | Court dismissal without trial of plaintiff’s claim | Old French non and suit meaning no suit |
| Notice | noun | Formal information given to a party about legal action | Old English notis via Latin notitia |
| Notice of appeal | noun | Formal notification to seek higher court review | English phrase 19th century |
| Notice to quit | noun | Eviction notice requiring tenant to leave property | English notice and quit archaic |
| Notice of default | noun | Formal warning that contractual breach occurred | English notice and default 19th century |
| Notary public | noun | Official authorized to witness signatures and oaths | Latin notarius ancient Rome |
| Novelty (patent) | noun | Requirement that invention be new to be patentable | Latin novus new |
| Nunc pro tunc | phrase | Court order correcting earlier record effective retroactively | Latin nunc pro tunc meaning now for then |
| Nullity | noun | State of being void or legally invalid | Latin nullus none |
| Null and void | phrase | Having no legal force or effect | Latin nullus 14th century usage |
| Nulla bona | writ | Sheriff’s return meaning no goods found to satisfy judgment | Latin nulla bona meaning no goods |
| Natural justice | doctrine | Fair decisionmaking principles procedural fairness | English natural + justice 17th century |
| Natural person | noun | Human individual as legal actor | Latin natura nature |
| Nexus (tax) | noun | Sufficient connection enabling tax jurisdiction | Latin nexus tying together |
| Nominal damages | noun | Small sum awarded when legal wrong proven but no harm | Latin nominalis name only |
| Nominee | noun | Person named to hold title or act for another | Latin nominare to name |
| Non-binding arbitration | noun | Arbitration giving nonmandatory decision not legally final | English non and binding 20th century |
| Nonconforming use | noun | Property use not matching current zoning rules | English non and conforming 20th century |
| Nonjoinder | noun | Failure to join a necessary party to lawsuit | prefix non and joinder 19th century |
| Nonparty | noun | Person not formally a party in a lawsuit | English non and party 19th century |
| Nonprofit corporation | noun | Corporation formed for noncommercial public or charitable purposes | Latin non and profit Old French |
| Nonresident alien | noun | Person not a resident for tax or immigration purposes (US) | Latin non resident and alien |
| No-fault divorce | noun | Divorce without proving marital wrongdoing | English no and fault 20th century |
| Nonjudicial foreclosure | noun | Foreclosure process outside court supervision | English non and judicial 19th century |
| Nonmutual collateral estoppel | doctrine | Preclusion applying issue preclusion against nonparty | English nonmutual and collateral estoppel |
| Non obstante veredicto | phrase | Latin for judgment notwithstanding the jury verdict | Latin non obstante veredicto meaning notwithstanding verdict |
| Nisi | noun | Latin term meaning unless used in conditional orders | Latin nisi meaning unless |
| Nisi prius | phrase | Historical term for trial at first instance before judges | Latin nisi prius meaning unless before |
| Notwithstanding clause | clause | Statutory or contractual clause stating it overrides others | English notwithstanding 19th century use |
| Non-pecuniary damages | noun | Compensation for nonfinancial loss like pain | Latin non and pecunia money |
| New trial | noun | Order to retry case after flawed trial | English new and trial medieval |
| Novation | noun | Replacement of old contract with new agreement | Latin novare to make new |
| Non compos mentis | phrase | Legally not of sound mind for legal acts | Latin non compos mentis not of sound mind |
| Nondelegable duty | doctrine | Duty that cannot be transferred to another party | English non and delegable 19th century |
| Nonclaim statute | statute | Law requiring claims be presented within time after probate | English nonclaim and statute 19th century |
| Nonconforming goods | noun | Goods failing to meet contractual specifications (UCC) | Latin non and conform 20th century |
| Nonrecourse loan | noun | Loan secured only by collateral not borrower personal liability | English non and recourse 19th century |
| Nonparty subpoena | noun | Court order compelling evidence from a person not in suit | English nonparty and subpoena medieval |
| No-contest clause | clause | Will provision penalizing beneficiaries who challenge the will | English no contest 19th century |
Descriptions
Negligence
A civil tort where someone fails to act as a reasonable person would and causes injury. Common in US and UK personal injury cases.
Negligence per se
A doctrine treating statutory breaches as negligent without proving duty or breach when statute protects a class and harm type (US, common law).
Negotiable instrument
A written unconditional promise to pay like checks or promissory notes governed by the UCC in the US and by similar laws elsewhere.
Negotiation
Informal or formal bargaining to settle contracts disputes or deals. Found across contract law and dispute resolution globally.
Nolle prosequi
A prosecutor’s entry that a criminal charge will not be pursued now. Used in common law jurisdictions including the US and UK.
Nolo contendere
A criminal plea that accepts conviction without admitting guilt; often treated like guilty for sentencing but not for civil liability (US).
Non est factum
A narrow contract defense where a signer lacked understanding of the document; used in UK common law and some Commonwealth jurisdictions.
Nonfeasance
Legal term for omission to act when there is a duty to act; contrasted with misfeasance and malfeasance in tort law.
Noncompete agreement
A clause or agreement restricting former employees from competing for a time and area; enforceability varies widely by jurisdiction (US state specific).
Non-disclosure agreement
A contract protecting private information from disclosure; widely used in commercial transactions and employment settings worldwide.
Nonsuit
A procedural order dismissing a plaintiff’s case for lack of proof; term and procedure vary between US and UK jurisdictions.
Notice
A foundational procedural concept meaning formal communication required by law for rights to be enforceable. Used in many contexts like eviction or contract law.
Notice of appeal
A filing that starts the appellate process by informing the court and parties of intent to appeal a judgment; procedures are jurisdiction specific.
Notice to quit
A landlord’s formal demand that a tenant vacate property; governed by landlord tenant law and statutory notice periods vary by jurisdiction.
Notice of default
A lender or party’s formal notice that a borrower or counterparty failed to perform; often a prerequisite to remedies like foreclosure.
Notary public
A person commissioned by government to authenticate signatures and documents. Powers and qualifications differ across US states and other countries.
Novelty (patent)
A patentability criterion meaning the invention must not be previously known or published; central in patent law globally.
Nunc pro tunc
A judicial entry that corrects clerical errors or omissions in the record as if done earlier; used in common law courts.
Nullity
A judgment declaring a legal act such as a marriage or contract void ab initio. Rules vary by jurisdiction.
Null and void
A common phrase describing acts contracts or judgments that are unenforceable or invalid under law. Used in statutes and contracts.
Nulla bona
A sheriff’s return indicating there were no assets to seize to satisfy a judgment; appears in writ and execution procedures in common law systems.
Natural justice
A foundational administrative law principle requiring hearings and unbiased decisionmakers; widely recognized in UK Commonwealth law and influences other systems.
Natural person
Legal term distinguishing a human being from a corporation or legal entity; used in statutes and civil codes worldwide.
Nexus (tax)
A tax law concept establishing when a state or country can tax an entity based on activities or presence; central in US state taxation and international law.
Nominal damages
A token monetary award recognizing legal rights were violated even without measurable loss. Common in tort and property cases.
Nominee
Someone designated to hold property or act on behalf of another. Usage common in trusts corporate law and transactions.
Non-binding arbitration
An ADR process where arbitrator’s decision offers guidance but parties are not compelled to accept it. Used where parties seek expert input without finality.
Nonconforming use
A land use that predates zoning changes and is allowed to continue under grandfathering rules; planning law concept in many jurisdictions.
Nonjoinder
A procedural defect where a required party is omitted; courts may dismiss or order joinder. Rules differ by civil procedure codes.
Nonparty
Someone affected by litigation but not named as plaintiff or defendant. Issues include subpoenas privileges and res judicata effects.
Nonprofit corporation
A corporate form that does not distribute profits to owners and often enjoys tax exemptions. Governance and registration rules vary by jurisdiction.
Nonresident alien
US tax and immigration term for individuals not domiciled or resident in the US; distinct taxation and reporting rules apply.
No-fault divorce
A divorce system allowing separation without alleging fault such as adultery; adopted widely in modern family law jurisdictions.
Nonjudicial foreclosure
A lender-initiated sale under a power of sale clause typically without court involvement; availability depends on state or national statute.
Nonmutual collateral estoppel
A doctrine preventing relitigation of issues even against parties not in earlier litigation subject to jurisdictional rules and due process constraints (US).
Non obstante veredicto
A post-verdict motion or judgment where court overrides jury finding; known in common law as JNOV with procedural limits in many jurisdictions.
Nisi
Used in phrases like decree nisi a provisional court order becoming final unless cause shown. Common in UK and other common law systems.
Nisi prius
An old common law term for trial level court. Now largely historical but appears in legal history and older case law.
Notwithstanding clause
A provision that expressly overrides conflicting statutory provisions or rights. Notable example is Canada Charter section 33 and contractual override clauses.
Non-pecuniary damages
Damages awarded for emotional harm pain or loss of amenity rather than monetary loss. Recognized in tort law globally with jurisdictional variations.
New trial
A court order granting a do over of a case due to legal errors or jury misconduct. Criteria and procedures vary by jurisdiction.
Novation
A contract law mechanism substituting parties or obligations thereby discharging prior obligations. Recognized in common law and civil law systems.
Non compos mentis
An older legal phrase used to describe lack of mental capacity for contracts or criminal responsibility; modern statutes may use medical or statutory language.
Nondelegable duty
A legal obligation, often safety related, that the defendant cannot escape by delegating; courts enforce direct liability in many jurisdictions.
Nonclaim statute
A probate rule that bars creditors or claimants who fail to present claims within a set period after notice; varies between US states and countries.
Nonconforming goods
Under commercial law and the UCC, goods that do not meet contract terms allow buyer remedies like rejection or damages.
Nonrecourse loan
A financing where lender’s recovery is limited to collateral; borrower has limited personal liability. Common in project finance and real estate transactions.
Nonparty subpoena
A subpoena served on someone outside the litigation to produce documents or testify. Enforceability and protections like privilege depend on jurisdiction.
No-contest clause
A clause designed to deter beneficiaries from disputing a will by forfeiting inheritance if they contest. Enforceability varies by jurisdiction and public policy.