'Contributory negligence' definitions:

Definition of 'contributory negligence'

From: WordNet
noun
(law) behavior by the plaintiff that contributes to the harm resulting from the defendant's negligence; "in common law any degree of contributory negligence would bar the plaintiff from collecting damages"

Definition of 'Contributory negligence'

From: GCIDE
  • Negligence \Neg"li*gence\, n. [F. n['e]gligence, L. negligentia.] The quality or state of being negligent; lack of due diligence or care; omission of duty; habitual neglect; heedlessness. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. An act or instance of negligence or carelessness. [1913 Webster]
  • remarking his beauties, . . . I must also point out his negligences and defects. --Blair. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Law) The omission of the care usual under the circumstances, being convertible with the Roman culpa. A specialist is bound to higher skill and diligence in his specialty than one who is not a specialist, and liability for negligence varies acordingly. [1913 Webster]
  • Contributory negligence. See under Contributory. [1913 Webster]
  • Syn: Neglect; inattention; heedlessness; disregard; slight.
  • Usage: Negligence, Neglect. These two words are freely interchanged in our older writers; but a distinction has gradually sprung up between them. As now generally used, negligence is the habit, and neglect the act, of leaving things undone or unattended to. We are negligent as a general trait of character; we are guilty of neglect in particular cases, or in reference to individuals who had a right to our attentions. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Contributory negligence'

From: GCIDE
  • Contributory \Con*trib"u*to*ry\, a. Contributing to the same stock or purpose; promoting the same end; bringing assistance to some joint design, or increase to some common stock; contributive. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • Bonfires of contributory wood. --Chapman. [1913 Webster]
  • Contributory negligence (Law), negligence by an injured party, which combines with the negligence of the injurer in producing the injury, and which bars recovery when it is the proximate cause of the injury. --Wharton. [1913 Webster]