This list includes 63 Legal terms that start with B, from “Bail” to “Bylaw”. These entries span procedural rules, statutory phrases, and doctrinal concepts used across criminal, civil, and administrative law.
Legal terms that start with B are concise legal labels and doctrines used to describe rights, procedures, and obligations. For example, “bail” traces to medieval English practice and still shapes modern criminal procedure worldwide.
Below you’ll find the table with Term, Definition, Etymology, Jurisdiction, and Notes.
Term: What the entry is called; use it to find the exact word you need quickly in study or practice.
Definition: A concise legal meaning and typical use that helps you understand how the term functions in law.
Etymology: Brief origin details showing root language and historical usage, which help you remember and contextualize the term.
Jurisdiction: Notes on where the term is commonly used or varies by country, so you know which rules apply to your work.
Notes: Practical pointers, notable cases, or related terms to explore next, helping you follow up or prepare for exams.
Legal terms that start with B
| Term | Category | Meaning | Etymology / Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bail | Procedure | Temporary release from custody pending court appearance | Old French, medieval |
| Bailment | Property | Delivery of personal property for safekeeping | Old French/Latin, medieval |
| Bailiff | Court officer | Officer who enforces court orders and maintains courtroom order | Middle English, medieval |
| Bail bond | Procedure | Surety guaranteeing defendant’s court appearance | English, 19th century |
| Bankruptcy | Insolvency | Legal process resolving insolvency and creditor claims | Old French/Latin, 14th century |
| Bankruptcy trustee | Administration | Court-appointed official managing bankruptcy estate | English, modern |
| Battery | Tort/Crime | Intentional harmful or offensive physical contact | Old French/Latin, medieval |
| Beneficiary | Trust/Will | Person entitled to receive benefits or property | Latin beneficia, medieval |
| Beneficial owner | Property/Corporate | Person who enjoys substantial benefits/control of an asset | Latin/Old French usage |
| Beneficial interest | Property/Trust | Equitable right to benefit from property owned by another | Latin/Old English |
| Bequest | Estate | Gift of personal property under a will | Middle English, medieval |
| Bench | Court | Judge or collective judges presiding in court | Old English, medieval |
| Bench warrant | Procedure | Arrest warrant issued by a judge for nonappearance | English, common law |
| Bench trial | Procedure | Trial decided by a judge without a jury | English, common law |
| Bench opinion | Judgment | Judge’s on-the-spot court ruling or explanation | English usage |
| Beyond a reasonable doubt | Evidence standard | Highest standard for criminal conviction | English common law |
| Bifurcation | Procedure | Splitting legal issues/trials into separate parts | Latin/medieval usage |
| Bilateral contract | Contract | Agreement creating mutual obligations for two parties | Latin roots, civil/common law |
| Bill | Legislation | Proposed law presented for legislative approval | Old English/Latin, medieval |
| Bill of attainder | Constitutional | Legislative act punishing an individual without trial | English, early modern |
| Bill of exchange | Commercial | Negotiable order to pay money on demand or date | French/Latin, medieval commerce |
| Bill of lading | Commercial | Document acknowledging receipt and terms for shipped goods | Medieval maritime law |
| Bill of particulars | Procedure | Detailed statement clarifying charges or claims | English common law |
| Bill of rights | Constitutional | Document or statutory protections of individual rights | Latin/English, modern |
| Bill of sale | Transactions | Document transferring ownership of personal property | English common law |
| Bill of credit | Currency/Constitutional | Paper money or government-issued promissory note | Early modern English |
| Binder | Insurance/Contract | Temporary insurance agreement pending formal policy | English, 19th century |
| Blackmail | Crime | Extortion by threats to expose or harm unless demands met | English, 16th–17th century |
| Black-letter law | Doctrinal | Well-established, widely accepted legal principles | Metaphorical late 19th century |
| Blue pencil doctrine | Contracts/Remedy | Court power to sever illegal contract parts and enforce remainder | Metaphorical editing term, 19th century |
| Blue law | Statute | Law restricting activities on Sundays or religious days | Colonial/English origins |
| Blue sky laws | Securities | State laws regulating securities offerings and fraud | U.S. early 20th century |
| Blank endorsement | Negotiable instruments | Endorsement not specifying payee, making instrument negotiable | English commercial law |
| Blanket lien | Security interest | Security interest covering multiple assets of debtor | Commercial law term |
| Bond | Securities/Surety | Debt instrument or guarantee securing performance | Old French/Latin, medieval |
| Bondholder | Securities | Person or entity holding a bond/security | English, modern |
| Boot (tax) | Tax | Non-like-kind property or money in exchange transactions | Informal legal term |
| Bona fide | Doctrine | In good faith; genuine or without fraud | Latin, classical |
| Bona fide purchaser | Property | Buyer who purchases in good faith without notice of defects | Latin phrase |
| Bona vacantia | Property | Ownerless property reverting to the state or crown | Latin, medieval |
| Bona fide occupational qualification | Employment law | Permitted employer job requirement based on authentic necessity | Latin phrase, 20th century |
| Border search | Procedure | Search at national boundary without warrant requirement | Modern statutory/common law |
| Borrower | Finance/Contract | Person or entity receiving funds under loan terms | Old English, medieval |
| Breach | General | Failure to perform a legal duty or promise | Old English, medieval |
| Breach of contract | Contract | Violation of contractual obligation by a party | English common law |
| Breach of fiduciary duty | Tort/Equity | Fiduciary’s failure to act loyally or in beneficiary’s interest | Latin/English |
| Breach of the peace | Criminal/Public order | Conduct disturbing public order or tranquility | English common law |
| Brief | Procedure | Written legal argument presented to a court | Old French/Latin, medieval |
| Bribery | Crime | Offering, giving, or receiving improper payments to influence actions | Latin/Old French, medieval |
| Brandeis brief | Procedure/Advocacy | Brief emphasizing social-science evidence and policy impact | Named after Justice Brandeis, early 20th century |
| Broker | Agency/Finance | Agent who arranges transactions between buyers and sellers | Old French/English, medieval commerce |
| Broker-dealer | Securities | Firm acting as broker and dealer in securities transactions | U.S. securities term |
| Brownfield? (excluded) | |||
| Burden of proof | Evidence | Obligation to prove disputed facts in a case | Latin/common law |
| Burden of persuasion | Evidence | Degree to which a party must be convinced on an issue | English common law |
| Burden of production | Procedure | Obligation to introduce sufficient evidence to survive a motion | English common law |
| Burden shifting | Evidence | When burden moves between parties based on proof or presumption | English common law |
| Business entity | Corporate | Organizational form for carrying on business activities | Latin/English modern |
| Business judgment rule | Corporate | Judicial deference to directors’ reasonable business decisions | U.S./common law development |
| Business tort | Tort | Wrongful acts harming a business’s economic interests | Modern commercial law |
| Buyer in ordinary course | Sales | Buyer who purchases goods in regular market without notice of claims | UCC/common law |
| Bylaw | Corporate/Governance | Internal rule governing operations of a corporation or organization | Medieval English |
| Black-letter law | Doctrinal | Clearly established legal principles (see also “Black-letter”) | Metaphorical term |
Descriptions
Bail
A court-ordered release on security or conditions; helps balance public safety and defendant liberty in many jurisdictions.
Bailment
A relationship where one party temporarily holds another’s goods; important in storage, shipping, and commercial transactions.
Bailiff
Court employee who executes summonses, enforces judgments, and keeps order; role varies by jurisdiction and court level.
Bail bond
A surety contract—often via a bondsman—used to secure release; common in U.S. criminal systems but regulated differently worldwide.
Bankruptcy
Court-administered process for reorganizing or liquidating debts; affects creditors’ priorities and debtor discharge rights.
Bankruptcy trustee
Trustee collects assets, administers distributions to creditors, and may operate debtor’s business in bankruptcy proceedings.
Battery
A crime and tort involving unconsented contact; civil victims can seek damages, criminal courts may impose punishment.
Beneficiary
One who receives property, payments, or advantages under a will, trust, insurance policy, or contract.
Beneficial owner
The natural person with ultimate control or benefit of property or shares, crucial for anti-money-laundering and corporate transparency.
Beneficial interest
An equitable stake in property (e.g., trust beneficiary); distinguishes legal title from equitable benefit.
Bequest
A testamentary transfer of personal items or money; commonly used term in wills and probate practice.
Bench
Refers to the judge(s) rather than the jury; “the bench” decides law and, in bench trials, facts.
Bench warrant
Issued when a party fails to appear or obey court orders; used to compel attendance or punish contempt.
Bench trial
Parties may opt or be ordered to have a judge determine facts and law; common in complex or equitable disputes.
Bench opinion
An oral or short written decision delivered from the bench, often followed by full opinion later.
Beyond a reasonable doubt
The prosecution’s required proof level in criminal cases in many systems; protects against wrongful conviction.
Bifurcation
Courts may separate liability and damages or criminal and sentencing phases to improve efficiency or fairness.
Bilateral contract
A common contract type where each party promises performance in exchange for the other’s promise.
Bill
Draft statute introduced in a legislature; becomes law when enacted and is central to statutory development.
Bill of attainder
Prohibited by many constitutions (e.g., U.S. Constitution) because it bypasses judicial process and due process protections.
Bill of exchange
Common in trade and finance: a written instruction directing payment between parties; basis for checks and drafts.
Bill of lading
Transfers title and evidences carriage contract; key in shipping, insurance, and goods transactions.
Bill of particulars
Used to require more specific allegations or charges; helps parties prepare for trial.
Bill of rights
Enumerated civil liberties in constitutions or statutes, central to constitutional law and civil rights litigation.
Bill of sale
Written evidence of sale of goods or chattels; useful for proof of ownership and tax purposes.
Bill of credit
Historical term for government-issued notes; appears in constitutional restrictions in some countries.
Binder
Short-term coverage evidence used by insurers pending issuance of a formal policy; important in risk management.
Blackmail
A criminal offense involving coercion for gain; prosecutable and relevant in both criminal and civil remedies.
Black-letter law
Refers to clear statutory or case law rules students and practitioners rely on for fundamental principles.
Blue pencil doctrine
Enables courts to remove unenforceable clauses (like overbroad covenants) while preserving valid parts.
Blue law
Historic laws limiting commerce on certain days; many have been repealed but remain in some jurisdictions.
Blue sky laws
State-level securities statutes designed to prevent speculative or fraudulent investments in securities.
Blank endorsement
A signature on a negotiable instrument that enables transfer by mere delivery; affects rights and liability.
Blanket lien
A creditor claim against all or many of a debtor’s assets, common in secured lending.
Bond
Can mean debt securities or a surety guaranteeing obligations; central in finance, public works, and court procedures.
Bondholder
Investor entitled to interest and principal under bond terms; has priority rights in insolvency contexts.
Boot (tax)
Taxable extra value received in exchanges (e.g., in-kind swaps); important in tax-deferred exchange rules.
Bona fide
A widely used legal phrase indicating honest intent or genuine status, relevant across contracts, trusts, and property.
Bona fide purchaser
A protected purchaser who pays value and lacks notice of prior claims; often insulated from prior equitable claims.
Bona vacantia
Used chiefly in common-law systems to describe unclaimed estates or property that passes to the state.
Bona fide occupational qualification
Narrow exception allowing certain job qualifications tied to business necessity, often limited by anti-discrimination law.
Border search
Governments often have expanded search powers at borders; constitutional protections can be narrower than interior searches.
Borrower
Party who takes funds or goods under an obligation to repay; key term in lending agreements.
Breach
Core concept across contract, tort, and statutory law; determining breach triggers remedies and enforcement.
Breach of contract
Occurs when a promise is unfulfilled; remedies include damages, specific performance, or rescission depending on jurisdiction.
Breach of fiduciary duty
Serious claim arising when trustees, directors, or agents misuse trust or duty, leading to restitution or damages.
Breach of the peace
Often used in UK and Commonwealth law to address public disturbances; definitions vary by jurisdiction.
Brief
Core litigation document explaining legal and factual grounds; crucial for appellate and trial advocacy.
Bribery
Criminal offense in public and private sectors; anti-corruption laws impose penalties and corporate compliance obligations.
Brandeis brief
Introduced empirical and policy materials into legal briefs, influencing modern appellate advocacy.
Broker
Intermediary who facilitates deals for commission; duties and liabilities vary by agency and securities law.
Broker-dealer
Regulated in securities markets; subject to registration, recordkeeping, and fiduciary rules.
Brownfield? (excluded)
Burden of proof
Determines which party must persuade the factfinder; standard varies by civil or criminal context.
Burden of persuasion
Often equated with the proof standard (e.g., beyond reasonable doubt, preponderance of evidence).
Burden of production
Also called burden of going forward; affects which party must present evidence at each stage.
Burden shifting
Common in discrimination and some statutory schemes where initial prima facie proof shifts evidentiary duties.
Business entity
Includes corporations, partnerships, LLCs; choice affects liability, taxation, and governance.
Business judgment rule
Protects directors from hindsight liability if decisions made in good faith and with reasonable care.
Business tort
Includes unfair competition, interference with contract, and fraudulent misrepresentation claims.
Buyer in ordinary course
Protected purchaser under sales law who takes goods free of certain prior security interests or claims.
Bylaw
Corporate internal regulations adopted by boards or members; important for governance and procedural compliance.
Black-letter law
Concise authoritative rules often cited in textbooks and exams; useful for quick legal reference.