What constitutes "damages" in a legal context?

In a legal context, "damages" specifically refers to monetary compensation that a court orders one party to pay to another. This compensation is typically awarded in civil cases where a plaintiff has suffered loss or injury as a result of the defendant's actions or negligence. The purpose of damages is to make the injured party "whole" again, to the extent that money can do so, typically compensating for losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.

The other options do not fit the definition of "damages" in a legal framework. Fines imposed by a regulatory body are penalties rather than compensation for loss. Injunctive relief is a court-ordered act or prohibition against certain actions rather than a monetary reward. Voluntary settlements may involve compensation but are not inherently classified as "damages" since they are agreements made outside of court and do not come as a result of a court order. Therefore, the correct understanding of "damages" in this context directly ties to the monetary compensation awarded by the court.