constructive force

English

Noun

constructive force (uncountable)

1. (law) Action on the part of one party which will be treated by a court as equivalent to the use of force in determining whether that party has acted improperly with respect to another.

   A civilian who impersonates a police officer in order to convince a debtor to turn over physical possession of collateral owed to a creditor has used constructive force to acquire the collateral.