What is defined as a wrongful act or an infringement of a right leading to civil legal liability?

The term that describes a wrongful act or an infringement of a right leading to civil legal liability is "tort." In legal terminology, a tort is a civil wrong that causes harm or loss to another person, allowing the injured party to seek damages or compensation through the courts.

Torts can encompass a wide range of actions, including but not limited to negligence, defamation, trespass, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Each of these actions can result in the injured party holding the wrongdoer liable for damages, thus demonstrating the fundamental characteristic of torts as sources of civil liability.

Negligence, while a type of tort, specifically refers to a failure to exercise reasonable care, resulting in damage or injury to another. Malpractice is a form of negligence that specifically pertains to professional duties, typically within fields such as medicine or law. Infringement generally refers to violating rights, particularly in the context of intellectual property law, rather than serving as a broad category of legal liability.

Understanding the broader classification of torts helps clarify how various wrongdoings fit into civil law and the legal processes that can be invoked to address grievances caused by such acts.