ratio decidendi

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Medieval Latin ratiō dēcidendī, from ratiō (“reckoning, method, reasoning”) + dēcidendī, genitive singular of dēcidendus, gerund of dēcidere (“to settle”).

Noun

ratio decidendi (plural rationes decidendi)

Examples

The Supreme Court of Eagleland hears an appeal on whether tomatoes should be classified as a fruit or vegetable. The majority decision decided that:

  • "Fruits" and "vegetables" should be given their ordinary meaning in daily life.
  • Based on the above reason, tomatoes are vegetables.

These reasons form the case's rationes decidendi, and binds all lower courts in Eagleland.

  1. (law) The legal principle or rationale on which a judicial decision is based.

Translations

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