This list includes 54 Legal terms that start with W, from “Wage and hour law” to “Wrongful termination.” These entries cover common topics like employment, contracts, property, procedure, and evidence, useful for study and practical reference.
Legal terms that start with W are specific words and phrases used across statutes, cases, and everyday legal practice. Many trace roots to Old English, French, or Latin, and include notable examples such as “writ” and “warranty.”
Below you’ll find the table with Term, Definition, Etymology, Jurisdiction, and Notes.
Term: The word or phrase listed: you use this to locate entries quickly and confirm precise legal wording and spelling.
Definition: A concise legal definition that explains meaning and typical use so you understand how the term functions in practice.
Etymology: Short origin details showing language roots and historical notes, helping you understand how the term developed.
Jurisdiction: Notes on countries or legal systems where the term commonly applies, so you know its geographic relevance.
Notes: Practical usage tips, cross-references, and notable case or statutory examples to guide your further research.
Legal terms that start with W
| Term | Category | Jurisdiction | Etymology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warrant | Procedure | Common law (US, UK) | Old French, 13th cent. |
| Warrant of arrest | Procedure | UK, common law | Latin/French, modern usage. |
| Writ | Procedure | Common law (US, UK) | Latin/French, medieval. |
| Writ of habeas corpus | Procedure | Common law; international human rights | Latin, 17th cent. |
| Writ of mandamus | Procedure | Common law (US, UK) | Latin, medieval. |
| Writ of certiorari | Procedure | US, appellate law | Latin, 18th cent. |
| Writ of execution | Remedy | Common law | Latin, medieval. |
| Writ of possession | Remedy | Property law, common law | Latin, medieval. |
| Writ of attachment | Remedy | Common law | Latin, medieval. |
| Writ of prohibition | Procedure | Common law | Latin, medieval. |
| Writ of error | Procedure | Common law (historic) | Latin, medieval. |
| Will | Property/Estate | Common law, civil law | Old English, medieval. |
| Will contest | Procedure | Common law | English, modern. |
| Witness | Evidence | Common law, civil law | Old English, medieval. |
| Witness statement | Evidence | Common law | Modern, 19th–20th c. |
| Witness immunity | Remedy | Criminal procedure | Modern statutory usage |
| Witness protection | Procedure/Program | Criminal law, US, international | Modern, 20th c. |
| Waiver | Doctrine/Procedure | Common law, civil law | Old French/Latin, medieval. |
| Waiver of rights | Procedure | Common law | Modern English |
| Warranty | Contract term | Common law | Old French, medieval. |
| Warranty deed | Property term | US property law | Modern English, 19th c. |
| Warranty of merchantability | Contract term | US, common law | 20th c., UCC influence |
| Warranty of fitness | Contract term | US, common law | 20th c., UCC influence |
| Workers’ compensation | Remedy/Statute | US, UK, civil law states | Early 20th c., English roots |
| Wage garnishment | Remedy | US, common law | Modern statutory term |
| Wages | Employment term | Common law, civil law | Old English, medieval. |
| White-collar crime | Criminal law | Common law, international | 20th c., sociological coinage |
| Whistleblower | Employment/Regulatory | US, UK, international | Modern, 20th c. |
| Work product doctrine | Evidence/Privilege | US common law | 20th c., US jurisprudence |
| Work product | Evidence/Privilege | Common law | Modern legal usage |
| Withholding tax | Tax | International, national | Modern fiscal term |
| Wrongful death | Tort | Common law, statutory | 19th–20th c. |
| Wrongful dismissal | Employment/Tort | UK, common law | 20th c. |
| Wrongful termination | Employment/Tort | US, common law | 20th c. |
| Wrongful foreclosure | Remedy/Property | US, common law | Modern mortgage law |
| Wrongful conviction | Criminal law | Common law | Modern usage |
| Wilful blindness | Doctrine/Criminal law | Common law | 20th c. |
| Willful misconduct | Tort/Employment | Common law | 19th–20th c. |
| Winding up | Corporate/Bankruptcy | Common law | Old English, 19th c. |
| Ward | Family/Property | Probate/Family law | Old English, medieval. |
| Wardship | Family/Procedure | Family law, probate | Medieval English |
| Writ of assistance | Procedure/Remedy | Common law, historic | 17th–18th c. |
| Writ of capias | Procedure | Common law, criminal | Latin, medieval. |
| Writ of error coram nobis | Remedy | Common law, US | Latin, historic. |
| Writ of scire facias | Procedure | Common law, historic | Latin, medieval. |
| Warrantee | Contract term | Common law | Old French, medieval. |
| Warrantor | Contract term | Common law | Modern English |
| Writ of restitution | Remedy | Property/landlord-tenant | Common law |
| Writ of sequestration | Remedy | Equity/common law | Medieval Latin |
| Wage and hour law | Employment/Statute | US, common law | 20th c., labor movement |
| Wage theft | Employment/Tort | US, international | Late 20th–21st c. |
| Withdrawal of plea | Criminal procedure | Common law | Modern criminal procedure |
| Warrant of committal | Procedure | Criminal law, UK, common law | English, 19th c. |
| Wrongdoing | Tort/Criminal | Common law | Old English, medieval. |
Descriptions
Warrant
A court order authorizing an arrest, search, or seizure; used to permit police action based on probable cause.
Warrant of arrest
A court-issued document directing arrest of a named person; commonly used in UK and other common-law systems.
Writ
A formal written court order directing a specific action; foundational remedy in common-law procedure.
Writ of habeas corpus
Order requiring a detainee be brought before the court to assess lawfulness of detention; key liberty protection.
Writ of mandamus
A court order compelling a public official to perform a duty; used to enforce non-discretionary legal obligations.
Writ of certiorari
A superior court’s order to review a lower court’s decision, notably the U.S. Supreme Court’s discretionary review grant.
Writ of execution
A court order enforcing a judgment, typically by seizing or selling a debtor’s assets to satisfy a money judgment.
Writ of possession
An order restoring possession of property to a plaintiff, often in landlord-tenant or property disputes.
Writ of attachment
A court order seizing a defendant’s assets to secure or satisfy a claim, pre- or post-judgment.
Writ of prohibition
A court order preventing a lower court from acting beyond its jurisdiction or authority.
Writ of error
An historical appellate writ for correcting lower-court legal errors; largely replaced by modern appeals.
Will
A legal document directing distribution of a person’s property after death; central to estate planning.
Will contest
A court challenge to a will’s validity, alleging issues such as incapacity, undue influence, or improper execution.
Witness
A person who gives oral or written testimony in legal proceedings, providing factual or expert evidence.
Witness statement
A recorded account by a witness describing facts; used in investigations and often submitted as evidence at trial.
Witness immunity
A statutory or judicial protection allowing witnesses to testify without facing prosecution for related offenses.
Witness protection
Government programs offering relocation, identity change, and security for cooperating witnesses and families.
Waiver
The intentional and voluntary relinquishment of a known right or claim, common in contracts and procedure.
Waiver of rights
A formal surrender of specific legal rights, such as Miranda rights or contractual remedies.
Warranty
A contractual promise or guarantee about the condition, quality, or title of goods or property.
Warranty deed
A deed in which the seller guarantees clear title to the buyer; commonly used in U.S. real estate transfers.
Warranty of merchantability
An implied guarantee that goods are fit for ordinary purposes; a central concept in sales law.
Warranty of fitness
An implied warranty that goods are suitable for a buyer’s specific purpose when the seller knows that purpose.
Workers’ compensation
A statutory insurance system providing wage replacement and medical benefits for employees injured at work.
Wage garnishment
A court-ordered withholding of an employee’s earnings to pay creditors, taxes, or child support.
Wages
Compensation paid to workers for labor; central to employment and labor regulation.
White-collar crime
Non-violent financial or regulatory crimes such as fraud, embezzlement, insider trading, and bribery.
Whistleblower
A person who reports illegal, unsafe, or unethical conduct by employers or government, often protected by statute.
Work product doctrine
A rule protecting materials prepared by attorneys in anticipation of litigation from discovery by opponents.
Work product
Materials prepared in anticipation of litigation, typically protected from discovery as privileged or work product.
Withholding tax
A tax collected at source by employers or payers, commonly applied to wages, dividends, and cross-border payments.
Wrongful death
A civil claim for damages when someone’s negligent or intentional act causes another person’s death.
Wrongful dismissal
A claim that an employee was terminated in breach of contract or statutory protections; common in UK employment law.
Wrongful termination
An unlawful firing breaching contract, public policy, or statutory rights; a frequent employment-law claim in the U.S.
Wrongful foreclosure
A claim alleging improper repossession or sale of mortgaged property due to procedural or substantive defects.
Wrongful conviction
A conviction obtained in error or by misconduct, leading to post-conviction remedies or exoneration efforts.
Wilful blindness
A doctrine imputing knowledge when someone deliberately avoids confirming illegal activity rather than investigating it.
Willful misconduct
Intentional or reckless behavior showing conscious disregard for safety or rights, often affecting damages or liability defenses.
Winding up
The process of liquidating a company’s affairs and distributing assets upon dissolution or insolvency.
Ward
A person, often a minor or incapacitated adult, placed under court protection and a guardian’s care.
Wardship
The state of being a ward; court supervision of personal or property matters for minors or incapacitated persons.
Writ of assistance
A general search warrant authorizing officers to search premises; historically significant in colonial resistance to general warrants.
Writ of capias
A writ ordering arrest of a person to bring them before the court, used in criminal and civil contexts.
Writ of error coram nobis
A rare post-conviction remedy allowing courts to correct fundamental errors not apparent in the trial record.
Writ of scire facias
An historical writ to revive or annul judgments or grants; seldom used in modern jurisdictions.
Warrantee
The person who benefits from a warranty or to whom a warranty is made; less common than “warranty holder.”
Warrantor
A party who gives a warranty; the seller or promisor guaranteeing certain facts or conditions.
Writ of restitution
An order restoring possession to a landlord after unlawful occupancy, typically enforcing eviction judgments.
Writ of sequestration
An order seizing or segregating property pending litigation or judgment to preserve assets for eventual relief.
Wage and hour law
Statutory rules governing minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping for employee compensation and hours worked.
Wage theft
Illegal employer practices that withhold earned wages or benefits, often pursued through civil or administrative claims.
Withdrawal of plea
A defendant’s formal request to withdraw a guilty plea; courts apply standards before allowing withdrawal.
Warrant of committal
A court order committing a person to custody, often for contempt or failure to comply with court orders.
Wrongdoing
An act that breaches law, duty, or ethical standards; used broadly in investigations and civil claims.