What term describes a company's legal debts or obligations incurred during business operations?

The term that describes a company's legal debts or obligations incurred during business operations is liabilities. Liabilities encompass any financial obligations a company owes to outside parties, such as loans, accounts payable, and other debts. This concept is crucial in understanding a company's financial health and is one of the key elements in the accounting equation: Assets = Liabilities + Equity. Understanding liabilities helps stakeholders evaluate the risk associated with a business and its ability to meet its financial commitments.

In contrast, assets refer to what a company owns, such as cash, equipment, and property, which are essential for generating revenue. Operations relate to the activities involved in running the business, including production, management, and sales; these activities do not directly describe financial obligations. Income pertains to the revenue generated from business operations but is not a term used to categorize debts or obligations of the company. Understanding the distinction between these terms is fundamental for anyone studying business finance and management.