law and order

1 of 2

noun

: the enactment of laws (see law entry 1 sense 1a(1)) and their strict enforcement by police and the courts

He has touted his conservative approach to local government, emphasizing law and order and conservative fiscal policies.

—Andrew Quintana and Daniela Flamini

But Rucker said Deters' view of law and order can be inconsistent. He pointed to Deters' decision to not pursue charges against former Bengal Adam "Pacman" Jones, who was accused in 2017 of spitting on a jail nurse—a felony crime, Rucker said.

—Kevin Grasha

also : the safe, civil, and orderly functioning of society viewed especially as a result of the enactment and strict enforcement of laws

"We're looking to you, Councillor, and to the other leading citizens, to help us in upholding law and order in this township."

—Arthur Conan Doyle

Another thing that impressed itself upon me throughout England was the high regard that all classes have for law and order, and the ease and thoroughness with which everything is done.

—Booker T. Washington

It is both wrong and dangerous to threaten to deploy American soldiers against American citizens unless there is a complete breakdown of law and order in a state and the governor requests that assistance.

—William Perry

law-and-order

2 of 2

adjective

law-and-or·​der ˈlȯ-ən(d)-ˈor-dər 

: relating to, characterized by, or advocating the enactment of laws and their strict enforcement

All these years, I've thought of Henry Hyde as a law-and-order kind of guy. A real hardnose when it comes to punishing those who break the law.

—Mike Royko

… all four dissenters were recent appointees of Richard Nixon, who had won the White House with a carefully orchestrated law-and-order campaign.

—David Oshinsky

Simon Kuper … says the Dutch public is more receptive than ever to law-and-order policies. The murders of Fortuyn in 2002 and Theo van Gogh, a controversial filmmaker in 2004, left the Dutch with a profound fear of chaos and disorder, and a negative self-image.

—Thijs Niemantsverdriet

Examples of law and order in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

By pardoning their attackers, Trump and his Republican enablers have forsaken the mantle of law and order. —Jonathan Zimmerman, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2025

Yet in the absence of institutions of law and order, opportunities to settle old scores are many. —Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Jan. 2025

Adjective

Bove said the order was not based on the strength of evidence in the case, but rather because it had been brought too close to Adams reelection campaign and was distracting from the mayor’s efforts to assist in the Trump administration’s law-and-order priorities. —Jake Offenhartz, TIME, 11 Feb. 2025

Trump's pardons for Jan. 6 defendants irk law-and-order allies Presidents often wait until their last days in office to dole out controversial pardons. —Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1575, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1839, in the meaning defined above