Quasi Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Quasi, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Quasi?

(v) When an action, decision, order or proclamations etc are taken in a form almost similar to the legal or judicial process, other than by a judicial authority or judicial process such situations are qualified as ‘Quasi’. For example a quasy judicial proclamation. The Latin word (kway-zeye, kwah-zee) means ‘as if’ is a substituted identity.

History and Meaning of Quasi

The term quasi comes from the Latin word "quasi," meaning "as if" or "similar to." In legal terms, quasi is used to describe situations where an action or decision is taken in a way that is almost similar to a legal or judicial process, but not quite the same.

A quasi-judicial process involves a decision-making body that has powers similar to those of a court of law, but not exactly the same. For example, a departmental hearing officer might have the power to determine whether a government employee is entitled to unemployment benefits, but without the full range of legal procedures that would be required in a court of law.

Examples of Quasi

  1. A school board might conduct a quasi-judicial hearing to determine whether a student should be expelled.
  2. A city council might make quasi-judicial decisions related to zoning regulations or building permits.
  3. A government agency might hold a quasi-judicial hearing to determine whether a company is complying with environmental regulations.

Legal Terms Similar to Quasi

  1. Judicial: relating to the courts or the administration of justice.
  2. Administrative: relating to the management of an organization or government agency.
  3. Adjudication: the process of resolving a dispute through a judicial or quasi-judicial process.