necessary force

[ˈnɛsəseri fɔrs]
noun phrasepl: necessary forces
força necessária
1. The minimum amount of physical or legal force required to accomplish a lawful objective, such as self-defense, law enforcement, or restraint
The police officer used necessary force to restrain the suspect who was resisting arrest.
O policial usou força necessária para conter o suspeito que resistia à prisão.
2. In legal contexts, force that is proportionate and reasonable under the circumstances
The court ruled that the homeowner's use of necessary force was justified in defending against the intruder.
O tribunal determinou que o uso de força necessária pelo proprietário foi justificado na defesa contra o invasor.
In both Brazilian and American legal systems, 'necessary force' is a crucial legal concept in criminal and civil law, particularly in self-defense cases and law enforcement. Its definition and limits vary by jurisdiction and are frequently subjects of legal debate and reform, especially regarding police conduct.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
reasonable forceproportionate forcejustified forcelawful forceminimum force
Antonyms / Antônimos
excessive forceunnecessary forcedisproportionate forceunlawful force

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
força necessária
Standard legal and law enforcement terminology
Rio de Janeiro
força necessária
Common in police and judicial contexts
São Paulo
força necessária
Used in legal documents and law enforcement training
Portugal
força necessária
Legal terminology consistent with European Portuguese law

Related Words

self-defenserestraintproportionalityuse of forceforce continuumlegitimate defense

Related Idioms & Phrases

use necessary force
apply necessary force
justified use of necessary force
within the bounds of necessary force
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