Legal Definitions - words of art

In legal contexts, words of art refers to specialized terminology that carries a precise and often unique meaning within a particular profession, industry, science, or field of study. These terms may have a different or less specific meaning in everyday language, but within their specific domain, they convey a very particular concept or instruction that is understood by those trained in that area.

• In a hospital, a doctor might write "NPO after midnight" in a patient's chart before surgery. For a medical professional, NPO (which stands for nil per os, Latin for "nothing by mouth") is a clear and unambiguous instruction meaning the patient cannot eat or drink anything, including water, after that time. To someone outside the medical field, "NPO" would likely be meaningless, illustrating how it's a word of art specific to healthcare.

• During a home renovation, an architect might advise a homeowner that a particular interior wall is a "load-bearing wall." In construction and engineering, a load-bearing wall is a critical structural element that supports the weight of the roof or upper floors. Removing such a wall without proper support could cause the building to collapse. This term is a word of art because it conveys a specific structural function that goes beyond the general understanding of a "wall" and is crucial for professionals in the building trades.

• When discussing a mortgage or a loan, a financial advisor might explain the concept of "amortization." In finance and accounting, amortization refers to the process of gradually paying off a debt over time through regular payments, or the systematic expensing of an intangible asset over its useful life. While "paying off a debt" is a general concept, "amortization" is a word of art that describes the specific accounting method and schedule for doing so, understood precisely by financial professionals.