criminal law

noun

: the law of crimes and their punishments

Examples of criminal law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Presidents have become less, not more, subject to criminal law, and have become more, not less, likely to view criminal law as an option for use against political opponents. —Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2024

This civil action neither precludes nor requires potential future action under Pennsylvania criminal law. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

Supreme leader Kim Jong Un's regime expanded the list of offenses warranting the death penalty from 11 to 16 via revisions of criminal law, according to Yonhap News Agency. —Timothy H.j. Nerozzi Fox News, Fox News, 28 Sep. 2024

Set acceptable error margins and ensure AI tools meet these standards before integration, recognizing that error tolerance may vary depending on the legal domain, such as criminal law versus corporate compliance. —Phillip Greer, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

criminal law

noun

: public law that deals with crimes and their prosecution compare civil law

Note: Substantive criminal law defines crimes, and procedural criminal law sets down criminal procedure. Substantive criminal law was originally common law for the most part. It was later codified and is now found in federal and state statutory law.