What term refers to coercion or constraint in legal circumstances?

The term that specifically refers to coercion or constraint in legal circumstances is "duress." In the context of law, duress involves an individual being forced to act against their will or make a choice they wouldn't make freely due to the threat of harm or intimidation. This concept is particularly vital in contract law, where an agreement may be rendered invalid if one party was subject to duress during the formation of the contract.

Understanding the nuances, duress is distinct from other terms. For example, "coercion" is a broader concept that could encompass duress but lacks the specific legal definition applied to the circumstances that invalidate consent in contracts. "Pressure" may refer to a situation where a party is urged to act, yet it does not carry the same weight of illegality or inappropriate influence implied by duress. Lastly, "force" typically relates to physical strength rather than the psychological or emotional manipulation represented by duress. Thus, in a legal context, duress is the precise term capturing the essence of coercive actions that compromise an individual's free will.