Which term defines an unlawful act that results in harm to another?

The term that defines an unlawful act resulting in harm to another is known as a tort. A tort is a civil wrong that causes someone else to suffer loss or harm, leading to legal liability. The primary purpose of tort law is to provide relief to the injured party and deter others from committing similar harms. Torts can take many forms, including negligence, intentional wrongdoing, and strict liability situations, each designed to address different types of harm or injury.

In contrast, a contract pertains to legally binding agreements between parties and does not inherently involve harm to others. An indictment, on the other hand, is a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime, typically used in criminal law rather than civil matters like tort law. Lastly, a defense usually refers to the legal arguments presented by a party to mitigate or negate liability in a legal proceeding, rather than defining a type of unlawful act resulting in harm.