Which term refers to a monetary award for damages assessed against a defendant in a civil lawsuit?

The term that refers to a monetary award for damages assessed against a defendant in a civil lawsuit is "damages." In legal terms, damages represent the financial compensation that a court orders a defendant to pay to a plaintiff whose rights have been violated or who has suffered loss due to the defendant's actions. This amount is intended to make the plaintiff "whole" again or to compensate for the harm experienced.

Judgment refers to the final decision made by a court, which may include the awarding of damages, but it encompasses the entire ruling rather than just the compensation amount. Costs typically refer to the expenses incurred in the course of litigation, such as filing fees or attorney costs, rather than the monetary compensation awarded for harm. Fees generally reference charges for professional services, like those of attorneys, rather than damages specific to a lawsuit's outcome. Therefore, damages specifically denote the compensation awarded for harm or injury suffered, making it the correct term in this context.