Here you’ll find 55 Legal terms that start with V, organized from “Vacancy” to “Vouching”. These entries cover procedural rules, property concepts, evidentiary terms, and common courtroom vocabulary used in law practice.
Legal terms that start with V are specialized words used in statutes, court opinions, and legal documents. Many, like “vacancy” and “vouching,” reflect Latin or French roots and long legal histories.
Below you’ll find the table with Term, Definition, Etymology, Jurisdiction, Example, and Related Terms.
Term: The legal word itself; use it to locate precise entries and recognize terminology in documents and exams.
Definition: A concise legal definition and key usage note so you understand meaning and application quickly.
Etymology: Brief origin information helps you see language roots and historical context behind each legal term.
Jurisdiction: Shows countries or legal systems where the term is common, so you know regional relevance.
Example: Short, practical usage or case reference that shows how the term appears in real legal texts.
Related Terms: Links or pointers to similar terms help you expand study and compare meanings across contexts.
Legal terms that start with V
| Term | Type | Jurisdiction | Etymology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacatur | remedy | US | Latin ‘vacare’ — to empty, c.16th c. |
| Vacate | procedural term/verb | US, UK | Latin ‘vacare’ — to empty, c.16th c. |
| Vacancy | constitutional term | US, UK | Latin ‘vacans’ — empty, c.14th c. |
| Vagrancy | criminal offense (historical) | US, UK | Latin ‘vagari’ — to wander, c.14th c. |
| Validity | legal concept | international, common law | Latin ‘validus’ — strong, c.13th c. |
| Valid contract | contract concept | common law | Latin ‘validus’ — strong, c.13th c. |
| Valuation | transactional/probative term | US, UK | Latin ‘valere’ — to be worth, c.13th c. |
| Value-added tax | tax statute | EU, UK, CAN, many | English ‘value added’, 20th c. |
| Vendee | contract/transaction term | Common law jurisdictions | French ‘vendre’ — to sell, c.17th c. |
| Vendor | contract/Property term | Common law jurisdictions | Latin ‘vendere’ — to sell, c.13th c. |
| Venire | procedural term | US, UK | Latin ‘venire’ — to come, medieval |
| Venire facias | writ | UK, historical US | Latin ‘venire facias’ — cause to come, c.13th c. |
| Venire de novo | procedural/writ | US, UK | Latin ‘de novo’ — anew, medieval |
| Venue | procedural term | US, UK | Latin ‘venire’ — to come, c.14th c. |
| Verdict | substantive decision | Common law jurisdictions | Latin ‘veredictum’ — true saying, c.13th c. |
| Verification | procedural/evidentiary term | US, UK | Latin ‘verificare’ — make true, c.15th c. |
| Verified complaint | pleading term | US | Latin ‘verificare’ — make true, c.18th c. |
| Vesting | property/trust term | US, UK | Latin ‘vestire’ — to clothe, c.14th c. |
| Vested interest | property/benefits concept | US, UK | Latin ‘vestire’ — to clothe, c.14th c. |
| Vexatious litigant | procedural designation | US, UK, CAN | Latin ‘vexare’ — to trouble, c.17th c. |
| Vicarious liability | doctrine | US, UK, CAN | Latin ‘vicarius’ — substitute, c.17th c. |
| Vicinage | jury locality term | US | Latin ‘vicinus’ — neighbor, c.18th c. |
| Vitiation | doctrinal term | UK, US | Latin ‘vitium’ — flaw, c.16th c. |
| Voir dire | procedural term/Latin phrase | US, UK, CAN | Old French/Latin ‘voir dire’ — speak the truth, medieval |
| Volenti non fit injuria | doctrine/Latin phrase | UK, common law | Latin ‘to one consenting no injury is done’, medieval |
| Voluntary manslaughter | criminal offense category | US, UK | English ‘voluntary’, modern |
| Voluntary petition | bankruptcy/procedural term | US | Latin ‘petitio’ — request, medieval |
| Voluntary dismissal | procedural term | US, CAN | Latin ‘dimittere’ — to send away, medieval |
| Voluntary disclosure | tax/procedural term | US, UK, CAN | English ‘voluntary’, modern |
| Void | legal status | Common law jurisdictions | Old French/Latin ‘void’/’vacivus’, c.13th c. |
| Voidable | legal status/adjective | Common law jurisdictions | Latin root from ‘vacare’/’void’, medieval |
| Void ab initio | legal phrase | Common law jurisdictions | Latin ‘ab initio’ — from the beginning, medieval |
| Voidable preference | insolvency term | UK, US | English ‘preference’, 19th c. |
| Vouch | evidentiary practice | Common law jurisdictions | Old French ‘voucher’ — to warrant, c.14th c. |
| Vouching | audit/evidentiary process | UK, common law | Old French ‘voucher’, medieval |
| Voucher | documentary/evidentiary term | Common law jurisdictions | Old French ‘voucher’ — to warrant, c.14th c. |
| Variance | procedural/zoning term | US, UK | Latin ‘variare’ — to change, c.14th c. |
| Variation | contractual term | UK, US | Latin ‘variare’ — to change, c.14th c. |
| Validation | statutory/remedial term | UK, US | Latin ‘validare’ — to make valid, c.16th c. |
| Verbal contract | contract term | US, UK | Old English ‘verbal’ — by words, medieval |
| Voluntary intoxication | criminal defense concept | US, UK | English ‘voluntary’, modern |
| Vice-chancellor | judicial office | UK, some Commonwealth | Latin ‘vice’ + ‘cancellarius’, medieval |
| Vote dilution | voting-rights claim | US | English ‘dilute’, modern |
| Voting rights | constitutional/civil law | US, international | English, modern |
| Voting trust | corporate device | US, UK | English ‘voting’, 19th c. |
| Void for vagueness | constitutional doctrine | US | English ‘vague’ from Latin ‘vagus’, 20th c. |
| Voluntary arrangement | insolvency procedure | UK | English ‘voluntary’, modern |
| Voluntary liquidation | corporate insolvency term | UK, CAN, AUS | English ‘voluntary’, modern |
| Vendor’s lien | property/equity term | US, CAN | English ‘vendor’, 18th c. |
| Vindicatory damages | remedial doctrine | UK (limited usage) | Latin ‘vindicatio’ — vindication, c.19th c. |
| Viva voce | evidentiary/Latin phrase | UK, US | Latin ‘viva voce’ — with living voice, c.16th c. |
| Valuable consideration | contract element | Common law jurisdictions | Old French/Latin ‘valere’ — to be worth, c.16th c. |
| Visitation | family law term | US, UK | Latin ‘visitare’ — to visit, medieval |
| Vis major | doctrinal/Latin phrase | Common law jurisdictions | Latin ‘vis major’ — greater force, medieval |
| Vested remainder | property interest | US, UK | Latin ‘vestire’ — to clothe, c.16th c. |
Descriptions
Vacatur
A court’s action setting aside or annulling a lower court judgment or order; common in US appellate practice to nullify prior rulings.
Vacate
To annul, set aside, or withdraw a judgment, order, or conviction; used in motions to vacate sentences or judgments.
Vacancy
The state of a public office being unfilled, triggering succession rules, interim appointments, or special elections under constitutional and statutory schemes.
Vagrancy
An offense regulating wandering, begging, or homelessness; many jurisdictions have reformed or abolished vagrancy laws for vagueness and civil liberties reasons.
Validity
The quality of a law, contract, or act being legally effective and enforceable; assesses form, authority, and substantive legality.
Valid contract
A contract that meets legal requirements (offer, acceptance, consideration, capacity, legality) and is enforceable in court.
Valuation
The process of determining monetary value of assets, property, or businesses for taxes, sales, damages, or insolvency purposes.
Value-added tax
A consumption tax levied on the value added at each production stage; widely used internationally and commonly abbreviated VAT.
Vendee
The buyer in a contract of sale; used in property and commercial law as the counterpart to the vendor.
Vendor
The seller in a sale contract, often subject to duties regarding title, delivery, and disclosure.
Venire
A writ or panel summoning jurors; frequently used to refer to the jury list from which a trial jury is drawn.
Venire facias
A historic writ directing a sheriff to summon jurors; part of older common-law procedural vocabulary.
Venire de novo
An order or writ directing a new trial or fresh jury panel; literally means “to come again” or “begin anew.”
Venue
The proper geographic or subject-matter location for trial; venue rules determine where a case may be heard.
Verdict
The jury’s (or sometimes judge’s) finding on the facts, determining guilt, liability, or entitlement to relief.
Verification
The act of confirming the truth or accuracy of a statement, affidavit, or pleading, often by oath or attestation.
Verified complaint
A complaint filed with a sworn statement attesting to the truth of its allegations; used to add weight or trigger specific procedures.
Vesting
The point when a person acquires an enforceable right to property, benefits, or interests under trusts, pensions, or estates.
Vested interest
A right that is fixed and enforceable, not subject to future conditions, common in pensions, inheritance, and property contexts.
Vexatious litigant
A person who repeatedly files frivolous or harassing lawsuits; courts may bar or restrict filings and impose sanctions.
Vicarious liability
Liability imposed on one party (often an employer) for wrongful acts of another (employee) committed within the scope of employment.
Vicinage
The neighborhood or district from which jurors are drawn; historically tied to the Sixth Amendment right to a jury of one’s vicinage.
Vitiation
The making of a contract or transaction invalid due to defects like misrepresentation, mistake, duress, or illegality.
Voir dire
The process of questioning prospective jurors for bias and conducting admissibility hearings for witnesses or evidence.
Volenti non fit injuria
A defense that a person who knowingly consents to a risk cannot later claim damages; used in tort law as ‘volenti.’
Voluntary manslaughter
Homicide committed in the heat of passion or under adequate provocation without malice aforethought; a lesser offense than murder.
Voluntary petition
A debtor’s filing to commence bankruptcy proceedings voluntarily rather than being involuntarily petitioned by creditors.
Voluntary dismissal
A plaintiff’s dismissal of their own case, often without prejudice, subject to court rules and potential conditions.
Voluntary disclosure
A taxpayer’s proactive disclosure of prior noncompliance to authorities, often to obtain reduced penalties or negotiated resolution.
Void
Having no legal effect from the outset; a void contract or act is unenforceable as a matter of law.
Voidable
A transaction valid until rescinded by an entitled party due to defects like misrepresentation, incapacity, or undue influence.
Void ab initio
Describes an act or contract treated as invalid from its inception rather than merely voidable.
Voidable preference
A preferential payment or transfer made shortly before insolvency that a bankruptcy court may unwind to ensure equitable creditor treatment.
Vouch
To call a witness or produce a document in court to support a title or allegation; historically significant in property and evidence.
Vouching
The process of proving entries or claims by producing supporting documents or testimony; used in auditing and some legal proof contexts.
Voucher
A document, receipt, or certificate used to support financial transactions or as proof in legal proceedings.
Variance
In criminal law, a discrepancy between charge and proof; in land use, an authorized deviation from zoning regulations.
Variation
An agreed change to contractual or testamentary terms; may require formalities or consent depending on context.
Validation
A statute or judicial act that retroactively confirms and validates an act or transaction that might otherwise be invalid.
Verbal contract
An oral agreement formed by spoken words rather than in writing; enforceability can be limited by statute of frauds.
Voluntary intoxication
Intoxication by choice; may negate specific intent in some jurisdictions but generally is not a full defense to criminal liability.
Vice-chancellor
A judicial officer in chancery or equity courts; title used for certain senior judges in some jurisdictions.
Vote dilution
A claim that a group’s electoral power is weakened by redistricting, at-large elections, or practices, often litigated under voting-rights laws.
Voting rights
Legal protections and procedures governing citizens’ ability to register and vote, including anti-discrimination and redistricting rules.
Voting trust
An arrangement where shareholders transfer shares to a trustee to vote on their behalf, often to consolidate control temporarily.
Void for vagueness
The principle that laws must be written with sufficient clarity for ordinary people to understand; unclear statutes may be invalidated.
Voluntary arrangement
A debtor-creditor agreement (often an IVA) permitting repayment on agreed terms outside formal bankruptcy proceedings.
Voluntary liquidation
A company-initiated winding-up where members resolve to liquidate assets and dissolve the company under statutory procedures.
Vendor’s lien
An equitable lien in favor of a seller to secure unpaid purchase money, allowing the seller remedies against the property sold.
Vindicatory damages
Damages awarded to vindicate a right rather than to compensate loss; debated and narrowly applied in human-rights and constitutional contexts.
Viva voce
Refers to oral testimony or examination in court, as opposed to written affidavits or documentary evidence.
Valuable consideration
Consideration of measurable value, such as money or services, sufficient to support the formation of a binding contract.
Visitation
Court-ordered rights for a noncustodial parent or third party to see a child; determined by the child’s best interests.
Vis major
A principle excusing liability for unforeseeable external forces (natural disasters); related to, but distinct from, force majeure clauses.
Vested remainder
A future property interest granted to a person certain to obtain possession, not contingent on a condition precedent.