What is a tort?

A tort is defined as a civil wrong that causes harm or loss to another individual, for which the injured party can seek legal remedy through compensation or an injunction. This legal concept plays a crucial role in civil law and includes various types of wrongs, such as negligence, defamation, and trespass.

The essence of tort law is to provide relief to those who have suffered damage due to someone else's actions or inactions, holding individuals or entities accountable for their behavior when it results in harm. Unlike criminal offenses, which are prosecuted by the state, torts are typically addressed in civil court, where the victim can claim damages.

In understanding the context of the other options, it is important to note that torts are distinct from criminal offenses, such as felonies or misdemeanors, which involve actions that are considered harmful to society as a whole and are prosecuted by the government. Administrative violations, on the other hand, pertain to non-compliance with regulations set forth by government agencies, which is also separate from the civil wrongdoing defined by tort law.