Understanding Gravamen: The Core Basis of Legal Arguments

Gravamen is a Latin word that means "foundation" or "basis". In legal contexts, it can refer to the fundamental point or principle upon which a claim or argument rests.

For example, if someone is making a legal argument, they might say that the gravamen of their case is the fact that the other party breached a contract. This means that the core basis of their argument is that the other party failed to fulfill their obligations under the contract.

The word "gravamen" is often used in legal writing and speech to emphasize the importance of a particular point or to distinguish it from other, less relevant details. It can also be used more broadly to refer to the underlying foundation or principle of any argument or claim.