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estoppel

Estoppel is defined as a legal principle that stops someone from asserting a truth that is defined as contradictory to an already established truth.

(noun)

If the court has established in a criminal trial that someone is guilty of murder, the legal doctrine preventing the murderer from denying his guilt in a civil trial is an example of estoppel.

See estoppel in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

the barring of a person, in a legal proceeding, from making allegations or denials which are contrary to either a previous statement or act by that person or a previous adjudication

Origin: OFr estoupail, stopper, bung < estoper: see estop

See estoppel in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
Law

A bar preventing one from making an allegation or a denial that contradicts what one has previously stated as the truth.

Origin:

Origin: Obsolete French estouppail

Origin: , from Old French estouper, to stop up

Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *stuppāre; see stop

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