You might not know the word \u201clegalese,\u201d but take a look at how it is similar to some other words you probably do know. This word ends in the suffix \u2013ese<\/em>, which is similar to words like Chinese<\/em>, Japanese<\/em>, Cantonese<\/em>. The suffix \u2013ese<\/em> is used to form adjectives and nouns describing things or characteristic of region or a language spoken by people of a certain region. So really when someone uses legalese it is almost like they are speaking a different language. That is certainly how it feels reading legal documents in English, even for many native English speakers. Legalese is the second language of lawyers and judges and used frequently in documents like: wills, rental\/home ownership agreements, license agreements, contracts, and laws.<\/p>\n Today I\u2019m going to review a few important legalese terms so if you are ever looking over a document where these words pop up you will know what they mean. If you are looking at a document that you know is written in English, but is so full of legalese that you can\u2019t understand it, I suggest getting a lawyer who speaks legalese to help you translate!<\/p>\n Legalese:<\/strong><\/p>\n alibi<\/strong> \u2013 evidence that you were somewhere else when an act, typically a criminal act, took place so as to indicate you didn\u2019t do the crime<\/p>\n alias<\/strong> \u2013 a false or different name than your legal name<\/p>\n defendant<\/strong> \u2013 a person or company that is accused of doing something wrong in a court of law<\/p>\n herein<\/strong> \u2013 this means \u2018in this document\u2019<\/p>\n heir <\/strong>\u2013 a person who received property or money after another person’s death<\/p>\n plaintiff <\/strong>\u2013 a person who accuses another person of doing something wrong in a court of law<\/p>\n sub poena<\/strong> \u2013 an order telling a person that they must appear in court<\/p>\n tort<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0 unfairly causing suffering, loss, or harm to someone in your care (usually a doctor) and then being held responsible for these actions<\/p>\n Are there any other legalese words you know or that you have come across, but don\u2019t know the meaning of?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I recently spent some time reading a whole bunch of laws for a licensing exam and it reminded me how different legal English is from regular English.\u00a0 In fact we have a special name in English for legal language, it is called legalese. You might not know the word \u201clegalese,\u201d but take a look…<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2013\/06\/legalese.jpg\")