barratry
noun
bar·ra·try
ˈber-ə-trē 
ˈba-rə-
plural barratries
1
: the purchase or sale of office or preferment in church or state
2
: an unlawful act or fraudulent breach of duty by a master of a ship or by the mariners to the injury of the owner of the ship or cargo
3
: the persistent incitement of litigation
Examples of barratry in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But cases for barratry are rarely prosecuted.
—
Patrick Danner, San Antonio Express-News, 24 June 2021
Tran withdrew her federal suit against Watts for identity theft, but filed another one in state court, along with the barratry claim against him and Hilliard, both of whom deny any wrongdoing.
—Francesca Mari, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2020
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Patrick Danner, San Antonio Express-News, 24 June 2021
Tran withdrew her federal suit against Watts for identity theft, but filed another one in state court, along with the barratry claim against him and Hilliard, both of whom deny any wrongdoing.
—Francesca Mari, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2020
Dictionary Entries Near barratry
Cite this Entry
“Barratry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barratry. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
barratry
noun
bar·ra·try
ˈbar-ə-trē
plural barratries
1
: an unlawful act or fraudulent breach of duty by a ship's master or crew that injures the interests of the ship's or cargo's owners
—often used in marine insurance policies
Note: Examples of barratry include embezzling cargo, stealing a ship's equipment, or willfully sinking a ship.
2
: the persistent incitement of litigation
Etymology
Middle French baraterie deception, from barater to deceive, cheat
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