Final answer:
A wrongful act against a person or their property in a civil context is known as a tort, which is distinct from a criminal offense.
Step-by-step explanation:
A wrongful act committed by an individual against another person or the person's property is known as a tort. This term refers to many kinds of harmful acts that are subject to civil legal actions, as opposed to criminal acts, which are punished by the state. In the context of criminal law, acts are defined that could harm or endanger others, with established punishments for those actions.
These acts are classified as either felonies or misdemeanors, with felonies being more serious. Nonetheless, when the act is a civil transgression, private parties can bring legal action against one another seeking restitution or damages for the harm caused.