What legal term refers to harm or injury that is wrongfully inflicted?

The legal term that refers to harm or injury that is wrongfully inflicted is a tort. A tort is a civil wrong that occurs when a person’s actions cause harm to another individual, leading to legal liability. This can encompass a wide range of wrongful acts, including but not limited to negligence, intentional acts, and strict liability situations. The concept of torts is essential in civil law as it serves to provide a remedy to the victim for the harm suffered, typically in the form of monetary compensation.

In contrast, the other terms mentioned have more specific implications. Assault typically refers to the threat of harm or the intention to cause apprehension of imminent harm, but does not necessarily involve actual injury. Battery refers to the actual physical act of inflicting harm on another person, which is a direct action rather than a broad legal category like a tort. Negligence, on the other hand, is a specific type of tort that occurs when an individual fails to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm to another. While negligence is a form of tortious conduct, the broader term encompasses various wrongful acts, making "tort" the most accurate answer in this context.