abuse of process

UK/əˈbjuːs əv ˈpɹəʊ.sɛs/US/əˈbjus əv ˈpɹɑsɛs/

noun

A cause of action in tort arising from one party making a malicious and deliberate misuse or perversion of regularly issued court process (civil or criminal) that is not justified by the underlying legal action.

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Meanings

nounabuse of process (usually uncountable, plural abuses of process)

plural abuses of process

  1. uncountableusuallylawA cause of action in tort arising from one party making a malicious and deliberate misuse or perversion of regularly issued court process (civil or criminal) that is not justified by the underlying legal action.
Cite this entry
APA

abuse of process. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abuse%20of%20process

MLA

“abuse of process.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abuse%20of%20process. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “abuse of process,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abuse%20of%20process.

Source: abuse of process on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.