Quasi
Literal meaning: “As if; seemingly.”
What does the Latin term "Quasi" mean in law?
Quasi is a Latin prefix meaning 'as if' or 'resembling,' used in legal terminology to describe something that has some but not all characteristics of the thing it is compared to. A quasi-contract (or contract implied in law) is not a true contract but an obligation imposed by law to prevent unjust enrichment. A quasi-judicial proceeding is one conducted by an administrative body using procedures similar to those of a court. Quasi in rem jurisdiction is a court's power over a person's interest in specific property, as distinguished from pure in rem jurisdiction over the property itself. The prefix signals an analogy — the thing in question functions like the named concept without fully being one.
Source: General · Legal Latin
Legal Definition
Quasi is a Latin prefix meaning 'as if' or 'resembling,' used in legal terminology to describe something that has some but not all characteristics of the thing it is compared to. A quasi-contract (or contract implied in law) is not a true contract but an obligation imposed by law to prevent unjust enrichment. A quasi-judicial proceeding is one conducted by an administrative body using procedures similar to those of a court. Quasi in rem jurisdiction is a court's power over a person's interest in specific property, as distinguished from pure in rem jurisdiction over the property itself. The prefix signals an analogy — the thing in question functions like the named concept without fully being one.
How It's Used
Quasi is used as a modifier throughout legal writing to indicate that a legal concept shares characteristics with another but is not identical. Common compounds include quasi-contract, quasi-judicial, quasi in rem, and quasi-criminal. It appears across virtually every area of law.
Example Sentences
The court imposed a quasi-contract to require the defendant to compensate the plaintiff for the reasonable value of services rendered, preventing unjust enrichment.
The administrative hearing was quasi-judicial in nature, requiring the agency to follow procedures analogous to those of a court.
Quasi in rem jurisdiction allows a court to adjudicate claims against a person by attaching their property within the jurisdiction.