Dictionary

act

something done by a person for a particular purpose I don't understand why anyone would want to commit such acts.
a law, rule or formal decision made by the legislature or other law-makers The Human Rights Act is not just a normal Act of Parliament that can be repealed or amended at will.

Common Mistakes

  • Act and action have some similarities, but also some important distinctions. Act is specific, whereas action is more vague. Act refers to what is done and action refers the process of doing it.

Phrase Bank

  • The British Slave Trade was outlawed by Act of Parliament in 1807.

Additional Notes

  • Often found in the doublet act and deed.
  • In BrE, this word is capitalized, when used in the sense set out in definition 2, above. Statute and enactmentare synonyms of the this meaning.