Hold harmless

Definition

A contract promise that one party will not hold the other responsible for certain losses or claims, which usually means the other party is handing over the risk and asking for nothing back in return. Lawyers draft it carefully, and everyone else reads it quickly and signs before the coffee cools.

Example Usage

By signing the hold harmless agreement, you agree not to sue us if the zip line snaps, which is why the zip line is also covered by a very small but cheerful sign.

Source: Standard contract and indemnity drafting practice

Related Terms

Intermediate

recanting

Publicly admitting you were wrong and taking back what you said earlier—the legal equivalent of 'I take it back!' Recanting is the formal withdrawal or repudiation of a previous statement, often under oath.

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Beginner

Libel

Written false statements that damage someone's reputation. It's slander's literate cousin, and just as nasty, except it stays around forever in print.

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Intermediate

mens rea

The mental state or intent required to be guilty of a crime—proof that you meant to do something wrong, not just that you accidentally set the building on fire while making toast. It's what separates murder from tragic butterfingers.

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Intermediate

misdemeanour

A criminal offense that's serious enough to get you in trouble but not quite felony-level career-ruining. Think petty theft, vandalism, or public intoxication rather than grand larceny. In the US, misdemeanants typically serve less than a year in county jail and get to keep their voting rights, unlike their felonious counterparts.

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Advanced

Amicus Curiae

Latin for "friend of the court," which is the legal system's way of letting random people butt into a case they were not invited to. Think of it as showing up to someone else's argument at a restaurant and loudly offering your opinion.

⚖️ Legal

Advanced

Estoppel

A legal doctrine that basically says you cannot have your cake and eat it too, except described in language so convoluted that the cake, the eating, and the concept of dessert all require separate definitions. Lawyers use this word to sound smart at parties.

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