---
title: O.C.G.A. § 9-2-1. Definitions.
collection: code
id: 9-2-1
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 9-2-1 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/9-2-1
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/9-2-1.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/9-2-1/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t9-ch1-10-(v6)-2023-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=f3cabc45_0#page=21
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CIVIL PRACTICE / ACTIONS GENERALLY / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 9-2-1. Definitions.

As used in this title, the term:

(1) “Action” means the judicial means of enforcing a right.

(2) “Civil action” means an action founded on private rights, arising either from contract or tort.

(3) “Penal action” means an action allowed in pursuance of public justice under particular laws.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, §§ 3175, 3177, 3178; Code 1868, §§ 3186, 3188, 3189; Code 1873, §§ 3251, 3253, 3254; Code 1882, §§ 3251, 3253, 3254; Civil Code 1895, §§ 4930, 4932, 4933; Civil Code 1910, §§ 5507, 5509, 5510; Code 1933, §§ 3-101, 3-102, 3-103.

## Cross References

Status of “civil action” as single form of action for purposes of Civil Practice Act, § 9-11-2.

For corresponding provision relating to criminal procedure, § 17-1-2.