What is the legal term for a wrongful act that is framed as a civil wrong?

The legal term for a wrongful act that is framed as a civil wrong is "tort." This concept is foundational in tort law, which deals with situations where one person's behavior causes injury, harm, or loss to another person. Torts can arise from various actions, such as negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, or defamation, leading to a civil lawsuit. The primary purpose of tort law is to provide relief to victims and deter similar wrongful acts in the future.

In contrast, a contract involves a legally binding agreement between parties and does not inherently relate to wrongful acts. Liability refers to the state of being responsible for something, typically in a legal sense, but does not specifically define the nature of the wrongful act. Malpractice, while related, specifically refers to professional negligence or misconduct, usually in a medical or legal context, rather than encompassing the broader category of civil wrongs. Thus, among the given options, "tort" accurately captures the essence of a wrongful civil act.