What is a civil wrong, for which a suit for damages may be brought, called?

A civil wrong for which a suit for damages may be brought is known as a tort. Torts are wrongful acts that cause harm or loss to individuals and allow them to seek compensation through the legal system. They can encompass a wide range of actions, including negligence, intentional harm, and strict liability offenses. The essence of tort law is to provide relief to victims and deter others from committing similar harms.

Negligence, while a specific type of tort that involves failure to exercise reasonable care, does not encompass all civil wrongs, making it a narrower term. Infringement refers specifically to violations of rights, such as intellectual property rights, and does not cover the broad scope of tort laws. A criminal act involves actions that violate the law and are prosecuted by the state rather than through civil suits. Therefore, tort is the most accurate term to describe the broad category of civil wrongs for which damages can be sought.