Barratry: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Barratry noun. The offence of stirring up needless lawsuits and quarrels.
How to say it
BA-ruh-tree/ˈbarətri/
3 syllables, stressed on the first (BA).
Meanings
- The offence of stirring up needless lawsuits and quarrels.
- Fraud or gross misconduct by a ship’s master or crew against its owners.
Barratry in a sentence
The serial litigant was finally charged with barratry after his fortieth pointless lawsuit.
Scuttling the ship for the insurance was barratry, and the captain went to prison for it.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- vexatious litigation
Where barratry comes from
From Old French barat, deceit or fraud.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Scuttling the ship for the insurance was _____, and the captain went to prison for it.
- liability
- dereliction
- barratry
Show the answer
barratry: Scuttling the ship for the insurance was barratry, and the captain went to prison for it.