adverse party

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "adverse party" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to refer to a party involved in a legal dispute who is opposed to another party. Example: "In the case of Smith v. Jones, the court ruled in favor of the adverse party, granting them the requested relief."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"It is my understanding that he was an adverse party in a case being handled by our firm," Mr. Smalley said.

The New York Times

They want to proceed under a rule in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure that allows a party to a civil proceeding to obtain relief from a final judgment if it was obtained by fraud, misrepresentation or other misconduct of an adverse party.

The New York Times

It is true that Islam prohibits killing an emissary, even one that belongs to the adverse party (Hamidullah 2011: 151, see also Abu Dawud 2008: No. 2755).

Journal of International Humanitarian Action

In the words of the Prosecution, "Serbia and Montenegro is acting as if it is an adverse party to litigation rather than a State party assisting the International Tribunal in its search for truth and reconciliation in the former Yugoslavia" (Prosecutor v. Milošević 20 May 2003, paras. 1, 3, 21 22, notes 30 31 (citing UNSC Res 827 1993; UNSC Res 955 1994); Jorda 2002; del Ponte 2002).

Journal of International Humanitarian Action

A person is 'hors de combat' if: (a) he is in the power of an adverse Party; (b) he clearly expresses an intention to surrender; or (c) he has been rendered unconscious or is otherwise incapacitated by wounds or sickness, and therefore is incapable of defending himself; provided that in any of these cases he abstains from any hostile act and does not attempt to escape.

Huffington Post

Instead, I decided to fight Mahfouz here where free press rights are better protected, and pre-trial discovery of the adverse party's evidence is much broader than in England.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"For any law firm that engages with clients or adverse parties that are from different cultures and language groups, having staff who are multilingual is beneficial," says Volterra.

The Guardian

As a procedural doctrine, the principle of restraint urges judges to refrain from deciding legal issues, and especially constitutional ones, unless the decision is necessary to the resolution of a concrete dispute between adverse parties.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"It is prohibited to make use of the flags or military emblems, insignia or uniforms of adverse Parties while engaging in attacks or in order to shield, favor, protect or impede military operations".

Vice

The ruling found that the Interior Department met "secretly with parties having interests adverse to" the Navajo, adopted those parties' "desired course of action in lieu of action favorable to" the Navajo, and misled the Navajo about its actions.

The New York Times

"We didn't want baseball to be our lender because of the adverse relationship between the parties," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "adverse party" in legal writing, clearly define the specific role or actions that make the party adverse to avoid ambiguity. Using specific terminology enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "adverse party" in informal or non-legal contexts where simpler terms like "opponent" or "rival" would be more appropriate. This prevents the writing from sounding overly formal or stilted.

Linguistic Context

Adverse party functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies the entity or group that is in opposition to another in a specific situation, usually within a legal or formal setting. Ludwig AI confirms this usage based on example sentences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

29%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

7%

Unknown

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "adverse party" is a noun phrase used to describe the opposing side in a legal or formal dispute. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and most commonly found in formal contexts, such as legal documents, news reports, and academic papers. While synonyms like "opposing party" or "counterparty" can be used, "adverse party" carries a specific connotation of conflicting interests, mostly within legal or structured adversarial setting. When using this phrase, ensure the context is appropriate for its formal tone and precise meaning to avoid miscommunication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

opposing party

A direct synonym, emphasizing the act of opposition.

counterparty

Often used in contractual or financial contexts to denote the other party in an agreement.

opponent

Implies a more active or competitive form of opposition.

contending side

Highlights the act of contending or arguing a point.

antagonist

Suggests a hostile or adversarial relationship, often in narrative or dramatic contexts.

adverse claimant

Specifically refers to someone making a claim against another's property or rights.

party in opposition

A more formal and descriptive alternative.

opposing faction

Emphasizes that the opposition is part of a larger group with shared goals.

rival party

Implies competition or rivalry between the two parties.

other side

A simple and general term for the opposing group or individual.

FAQs

What does "adverse party" mean in legal terms?

In law, an "adverse party" refers to the opposing side in a legal dispute or litigation, whose interests are in conflict with another party.

How to use "adverse party" in a sentence?

Example: "The attorney presented evidence that the "adverse party" had acted in bad faith."

What can I say instead of "adverse party"?

Depending on the context, you can use "opposing party", "counterparty", or "opponent".

Is "adverse party" formal language?

Yes, "adverse party" is considered formal language and is typically used in legal, business, and other professional settings.