cause of action

: the grounds (as violation of a right) that entitle a plaintiff to bring a suit an amended pleading reiterating a cause of action for lost profits —J. H. Friedenthal et al. also : the part of a suit brought on those grounds removed the cause of action to the district court : the part of a suit brought on those grounds removed the cause of action to the district court

: right of action 1 the court, led by Justice Brennan, said Congress intended to provide a private cause of action —National Law Journal