Et Al. Definition and Legal Meaning

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

What is Et Al.?

n. abbreviation for the Latin phrase et alii meaning “and others.” This is commonly used in shortening the name of a case, as in “Pat Murgatroyd v. Sally Sherman, et al.”

History and Meaning of Et Al.

Et al., an abbreviation of et alii in Latin, universally means "and others" or "and co-authors" in English. The notation is used to avoid repetition, shorten the length of document and citation, and prevent naming too much irrelevant parties. It is a common abbreviation used in academic writings, legal documents, and bibliographies.

Examples of Et Al.

  • The article was written by Anderson, Johnson, et al.
  • In the Supreme Court case Jones et al. v. Smith et al., the plaintiff's claim was denied.
  • The author listed 10 references in their work including: Doe et al. 1987; Michael et al. 2020.
  • We all agreed that the party event will be held at William's, but it is up to him and the others (Et Al.) to plan out the details.

Legal Terms Similar to Et Al.

  • Et Seq: Stands for "et sequentes," which means "and the following" in Latin. It is an abbreviation generally used in legal and historical texts to refer to a section or page range.
  • Ex Rel: An abbreviation of “ex relatione” in Latin, it indicates that the authorized lawsuit is brought by a private individual but on behalf of the government, usually in the interest of the public welfare.
  • Ibid: An abbreviation of "ibidem," meaning "in the same place" in Latin. It is used in academic writings, bibliographies, and legal documents to refer to a source that has been cited for the previously mentioned citation.