Gravamen Definition

grə-vāmən

gravamens, gravamina

noun

A grievance.

Webster's New World

The essential part of a complaint or accusation.

Webster's New World

The substance or core argument of a legal document or position taken.

Webster's New World Law

The grievance complained of; the substantial cause of the action; also, in general, the ground or essence of a complaint.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Gravamen

Singular:

gravamen

Plural:

gravamens, gravamina

Medieval Latin gravāmen injury, accusation from Late Latin encumbrance, obligation from Latin gravāre to burden from gravis heavy grave²

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Latin gravare (“to load”).

From Wiktionary

Find similar words to gravamen using the buttons below.