Remedy

From the Latin remedy (Latin: "to heal").

In one sentence

A legal action or payment a court awards to fix a harm or enforce a right after a breach.

Plain English

A remedy is what you get when someone breaks a contract or violates your legal rights—it's the court's way of making things right. Remedies can take many forms: money damages to compensate you for your loss, an order forcing someone to do what they promised (called specific performance), or cancelling the contract altogether. The goal is to put you back in the position you would have been in if the breach hadn't happened.

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Example

After a contractor abandons a home renovation halfway through, the homeowner sues and the court awards a remedy: money damages to hire another contractor to finish the job.

Used in a sentence

“The court granted the remedy of specific performance, ordering the seller to transfer the property as promised.”

Related terms

Damages

Money awarded by a court to compensate a party for losses caused by a breach or wrongdoing.

Compensatory Damages

Money paid to reimburse a party for actual losses directly caused by a breach or wrongdoing.

Rescission

Unwinding a contract entirely, returning both parties to their positions before the deal.

Performance

The act of doing what a contract requires, such as delivering goods or paying money.

Contract

A legally binding agreement between two or more parties to do or not do something.

Mitigation of Damages

A duty to take reasonable steps to minimize losses caused by another party's breach.

Offer

A proposal to enter into a binding agreement on specific terms.

Acceptance

Agreeing to the exact terms of an offer, creating a binding contract.

This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney.