Legal Definitions - res privatae

Definition: Res privatae (rays pri-vay-tee) is a Latin term used in Roman and civil law to refer to things that can be owned by individuals or by the state and its political subdivisions in their capacity as private citizens. These are private things that can be owned by people or the government.

Examples: Examples of res privatae include personal property such as a car, a house, or a piece of jewelry that belongs to an individual. It can also include property owned by the government, such as a park or a government building that is not used for public purposes.

Explanation: The examples illustrate the definition of res privatae by showing that it refers to things that can be owned by individuals or the government as private citizens. Personal property such as a car or a house is owned by an individual, while a government building that is not used for public purposes is owned by the government as a private citizen. These are all examples of res privatae.