Which of the following best describes a tort?

A tort is fundamentally defined as a wrongful act or infringement of a right leading to legal liability. This concept exists within the realm of civil law and pertains to actions or omissions that cause harm or loss to another individual. The essence of tort law lies in addressing situations where one party's conduct has resulted in injury to another, allowing the injured party to seek compensation or remedy through civil litigation.

The definition captures the essential characteristics of torts, which include negligence, intentional torts, and strict liability torts. Each of these categories reflects situations where the law recognizes a personal grievance caused by one party against another, and the law seeks to provide a remedy for the injured party.

The other options do not accurately describe what a tort is. A criminal act refers specifically to actions deemed harmful to society as a whole and prosecuted by the state; hence it is part of criminal law, not tort law. A breach of contract involves failing to meet a contractual obligation, which is a separate issue centered on the agreement between parties rather than personal injury or harm. An act governed solely by statutory law suggests a regulation established by legislation, which does not encompass the broader range of wrongful acts outlined in tort law.