juristic person
C2Formal, Legal
Definition
Meaning
A legal entity, separate from its members, that can hold rights and duties.
A person created by law, such as a corporation or a state, recognised as having legal personality, allowing it to own property, sue, and be sued in its own name.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A technical term in jurisprudence, contract, and corporate law. It distinguishes legally constructed entities from human "natural persons." The concept is fundamental to modern commerce.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Term is used in both. 'Legal person' is a more common synonym in both. 'Juridical person' is also used, especially in Commonwealth and EU law contexts.
Connotations
Identical. Highly formal and technical.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in formal UK/Commonwealth legal drafting; US law may use "corporate person" or "legal entity" more directly, but the term is standard.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
A company is a juristic person.The law recognises X as a juristic person.Y has the status of a juristic person.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A creature of statute (closely related concept)”
- “A veil of incorporation (related legal doctrine)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Crucial for understanding corporate structure, liability, and contracts (e.g., 'The subsidiary is a separate juristic person').
Academic
Core concept in law, philosophy of law, and corporate governance studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Replaced by 'company' or 'organisation'.
Technical
Precise term in legal documents, court judgments, and regulatory frameworks.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The Act does not provide for juristic persons to *vote* in elections.
American English
- Can a juristic person *sue* for defamation?
adjective
British English
- The company's juristic personality is distinct from its shareholders'.
American English
- They discussed the juristic nature of the foundation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- A limited company is a juristic person, so it can own property.
- The court ruled that the trust could be considered a juristic person for the purposes of the contract.
- The principle of a juristic person, distinct from its members, is the bedrock of modern corporate law and limited liability.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'JURISTIC' sounds like 'JURIST' (law expert). A 'juristic person' is a 'person' in the eyes of the LAW, not in biology.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE LAW IS A CREATOR (it creates persons). A CORPORATION IS A PERSON.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'юридическое лицо' literally back into English as 'juridical face' or 'legal face'.
- Avoid confusing with 'legal representative' (законный представитель).
- The adjective 'juristic' is highly specific and not a general synonym for 'legal'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'juristic person' in casual conversation.
- Confusing it with 'judicial person' (which relates to courts).
- Treating it as a synonym for 'businessperson' or 'lawyer'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the best definition of a 'juristic person'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not a human being. It is an artificial creation of the law that is treated 'as if' it were a person for legal purposes.
A natural person is a human individual. A juristic person is a non-human entity, like a company or a state, that the law grants similar legal status to.
No, because it is not a physical being. However, it can be fined, sued, or have its legal status dissolved ('killed' by the law).
It allows for stable, long-lasting organisations (like businesses, charities, governments) to own property, make contracts, and be held responsible, enabling complex modern economies.