Sui Generis Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Sui Generis.

Sui Generis (adjective)

"Sui Generis" is a Latin phrase that directly translates to "of its own kind." In a legal context, it refers to events, situations, actions, materials, individuals, or entities that are unique and stand alone, having their own specific characteristics that make them different from all others. For instance, the Eiffel Tower is "sui generis" because it is a unique structure that doesn't match any other. Similarly, a person practicing unusual or unprecedented behavior, like a human eating other humans, would be considered "sui generis." This adjective is often used in legal settings when standard categorization does not fit, or when a new law or regulation needs to be made for a one-of-a-kind case.