Legal terminology · Decisions & reasoning
ratio decidendi — Reason for deciding
ratio decidendi means reason for deciding. Latin source words and legal terminology examples: Identifying the ratio decidendi.
Meaning and source words
Meaning: Reason for deciding
- Latin: ratio decidendi
Examples and word parts
Identifying the ratio decidendi
Identifying the reasoning necessary to a court's decision.
Word parts: ratio (reason) + decidendi (of deciding)
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Related decisions & reasoning terms
- de novo — Anew
De novo review
- stare decisis — Follow precedent
Reliance on stare decisis
- res judicata — Claim preclusion
A res judicata argument
- obiter dictum — An incidental judicial remark
An observation described as dictum
- prima facie — At first appearance
Prima facie evidence
- a fortiori — With stronger reason
An a fortiori argument
- ad hoc — For this purpose
An ad hoc committee
- de facto — In fact or in practice
De facto control
Sources and usage
From the Word Radicals legal terminology collection. Source words and word parts are learning references; modern meanings can differ from their classical sources.