Legal Definitions - Supra

Supra is a Latin term meaning "above" or "earlier in this document." In legal and academic writing, it serves as a concise cross-reference, directing the reader to a specific point, argument, or section that has already been discussed or presented within the same text. It is used to avoid repeating information and to guide the reader efficiently through a document.

Here are some examples illustrating the use of supra:

• In a Court Filing: Imagine a lawyer submitting a lengthy legal brief to a court. In an early section, they might meticulously detail the facts of a previous, relevant court case. Later, when arguing how those facts apply to the current situation, they might write, "As established in the discussion of Doe v. Roe supra, the principle of equitable estoppel applies."

  Explanation: Here, "supra" tells the judge or clerk reading the brief to look back at the earlier part of *this very document* where the case of Doe v. Roe was fully explained, rather than needing to repeat the details or provide a specific page number.

• In a Business Contract: Consider a detailed business contract that defines several key terms, such as "Proprietary Information" and "Confidential Materials," in its initial clauses. Later in the contract, when outlining the obligations of the parties, a clause might state, "The Receiving Party agrees to protect all Proprietary Information and Confidential Materials, as defined supra, with the same degree of care as its own confidential information."

  Explanation: The use of "supra" here directs the reader back to the specific definitions provided earlier in the contract, ensuring clarity and consistency without having to restate the full definitions each time the terms are used.

• In a Research Paper: A scholar writing a research paper might introduce a complex theoretical framework in the introduction or literature review section. When discussing their findings in a later section, they might refer back to this framework by stating, "The observed anomalies can be fully understood within the theoretical model outlined supra."

  Explanation: This usage of "supra" guides the reader to the earlier, more comprehensive explanation of the theoretical model within the same paper, allowing the author to build upon previously established concepts without redundancy.