Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: E-Commerce Directive
Expressio unius est exclusio alterius: This is a fancy Latin phrase that means when you mention one thing, it means you are excluding the other things. For example, if a rule says "each citizen is entitled to vote," it means that people who are not citizens are not allowed to vote. This is a way of interpreting laws or rules to understand what they mean. However, it's not always true, and it depends on the context of the situation. Sometimes, mentioning one thing doesn't mean you are excluding other things. This phrase is sometimes used in court cases to help judges understand what a law or rule means.
Definition: Expressio unius est exclusio alterius is a Latin term used in law that means "to express or include one thing implies the exclusion of the other, or of the alternative." This means that if a law or contract explicitly mentions one thing, it is assumed that other things are not included or allowed.
Example: If a job posting says "must have a bachelor's degree in computer science," it implies that applicants without a bachelor's degree in computer science are not eligible for the job.
Explanation: The example illustrates how the term works in practice. The job posting explicitly mentions that a bachelor's degree in computer science is required, which implies that applicants without this degree are not eligible. The term is used to help interpret laws and contracts and to understand what is included and excluded based on what is explicitly stated.