If you’re a business professional who is faced with a legal situation, then you’ve likely heard the term arguendo. This term is a legal term of art that shows up in legal opinions and briefs often. But what does arguendo mean?
Arguendo is Latin for “for the sake of argument.” Essentially, it’s a reading of a hypothetical situation in which the facts of a case are momentarily considered to further explore and clarify a certain legal principle. It is not a real-life scenario, but instead a theoretical situation allow attorneys to examine what the law would potentially be in such a case.
For example, say a plaintiff is claiming the defendant has committed breach of contract, but there is a strong argument that the defendant did not engage in the necessary breach of contract transaction. Following arguendo, the court will consider this hypothetical situation and examine whether the defendant would have breached the contract if the facts had been different.
Arguendo is a key part of the legal argument process and helps both the court and attorneys better understand the facts and legal principles at play in a given case. Knowing what arguendo is can help attorneys come to more thoughtful decisions about the ramifications of certain rulings.
At the end of the day, arguendo is an essential legal term to understand. Business professionals who are working with or against legal counsel should familiarize themselves with the term to better equip themselves for a legal proceedings.