section 1983

noun

sec·​tion 1983

ˈsek-shən-ˌnīn-tēn-ˌā-tē-ˈthrē

: the section of title 42 of the U.S. Code that makes a person liable for depriving another of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the U.S. Constitution and laws while acting under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage of a state