abuz

Abuz is a Romanian noun meaning abuse, misuse, or maltreatment. It denotes the wrongful or improper use of something, especially power, authority, or rights, and appears in legal, administrative, and everyday language. In many contexts, it signals not just harm but a violation of rules or norms governing conduct.

Etymology and usage have roots in Latin and French. The Romanian term is widely linked to the French abus and the Latin abusus, reflecting historical language contact and legal vocabulary adoption. The word is common in both formal and informal discourse to describe improper actions or treatments.

In legal contexts, abuz is used in several established phrases. Abuz în serviciu refers to abuse of office, a criminal act involving misuse of entrusted duties. Abuz de drept denotes abuse of rights, a concept used in civil and administrative law to describe actions taken beyond legitimate purposes. Abuz sexual is a recognized expression for sexual abuse. Beyond law, abuz can describe mistreatment or overuse in everyday situations, such as abuz de resurse (abuse of resources) or expressing concern about long-term harm from repeated mistreatment.

Differences from related terms are nuanced. Abuz emphasizes improper or unlawful use rather than mere aggression, though violence can accompany it. It is distinct from but related to terms like violență (violence) or maltratare (mistreatment), focusing on improper application of power, rights, or resources.

See also: abuse in English, and corresponding terms in related Romance languages for cross-linguistic comparison.