damages

/ˈdæmɪdʒɪz/

/ˈdæmɪdʒɪz/

Damages are the official amount of money awarded to the winner in a law suit. If you're hurt in a car accident that's another driver's fault, you may end up collecting damages.

The legal term damages usually refers to money that's owed or received to compensate someone for a loss or an injury. If a business owner's negligence — not clearing ice from a sidewalk, for example — causes you to be injured, you can sue her for damages to pay for your broken arm and the days of work you had to miss. Sometimes a court awards "punitive damages" as well, which are specifically intended to punish the defendant.

Definitions of damages

1. noun

   a sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury
   synonyms: amends, indemnification, indemnity, redress, restitution

   types:

   relief

   (law) redress awarded by a court

   actual damages, compensatory damages, general damages

   (law) compensation for losses that can readily be proven to have occurred and for which the injured party has the right to be compensated

   nominal damages

   (law) a trivial sum (usually $1.00) awarded as recognition that a legal injury was sustained (as for technical violations of a contract)

   exemplary damages, punitive damages, smart money

   (law) compensation in excess of actual damages (a form of punishment awarded in cases of malicious or willful misconduct)

   atonement, expiation, satisfaction

   compensation for a wrong

   double damages

   twice the amount that a court would normally find the injured party entitled to

   treble damages

   three times the amount that a court would normally find the injured party entitled to

   type of:

   compensation

   something (such as money) given or received as payment or reparation (as for a service or loss or injury)