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gravamen

noun
gra·​va·​men | \ grə-ˈvā-mən How to pronounce gravamen (audio) \
plural gravamens or gravamina\ grə-​ˈva-​mə-​nə How to pronounce gravamina (audio) \

Definition of gravamen

: the material or significant part of a grievance or complaint

Did You Know?

Gravamen is not a word you hear every day, but it does show up occasionally in modern-day publications. It comes from the Latin verb gravare, meaning "to burden," and ultimately from the Latin adjective gravis, meaning "heavy." Fittingly, "gravamen" refers to the part of a grievance or complaint that gives it weight or substance. In legal contexts, "gravamen" is used, synonymously with "gist," to refer to the grounds on which a legal action is sustainable. "Gravis" has given English several other weighty words, including "gravity," "grieve," and the adjective grave, meaning "important" or "serious."

First Known Use of gravamen

1602, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for gravamen

Late Latin, burden, from Latin gravare to burden, from gravis

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More Definitions for gravamen

gravamen

noun
gra·​va·​men | \ grə-ˈvā-mən How to pronounce gravamen (audio) \

Legal Definition of gravamen

: gist

History and Etymology for gravamen

Medieval Latin, from Late Latin, burden, from Latin gravare to burden, from gravis heavy, grave

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