law

1 of 2

noun

ˈlȯ 

plural laws

1

a(1)

: a binding custom or practice of a community : a rule of conduct or action prescribed (see prescribe sense 1a) or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority

(2)

: the whole body of such customs, practices, or rules

The courts exist to uphold, interpret, and apply the law.

(3)

: common law

b(1)

: the control brought about by the existence or enforcement of such law

The Indian government is believed to have detained thousands of other people last year … . The government said the move, decried by critics as draconian, was necessary to maintain law and public order in the region.

—BBC.com

see also law and order

(2)

: the action of laws considered as a means of redressing wrongs

also : litigation

developed the habit of going to law over the slightest provocation

—H. A. Overstreet

(3)

: the agency of or an agent of established law

When he saw that the fighting was escalating, he called in the law.

c

: a rule or order that it is advisable or obligatory to observe

a law of self-preservation

d

: something compatible with or enforceable by established law

The decrees were judged not to be law and were therefore rescinded.

e

: control, authority

The child submits to no law.

2

a

often capitalized : the revelation of the will of God set forth in the Old Testament

b

capitalized : the first part of the Jewish scriptures : pentateuch, torah see Bible Table

3

: a rule of construction or procedure

the laws of poetry

4

: the whole body of laws relating to one subject

criminal law

probate law

5

a

: the legal profession

studied for a career in law

b

: law as a department of knowledge : jurisprudence

c

: legal knowledge

a man with much history but little law

6

a

: a statement of an order or relation of phenomena that so far as is known is invariable under the given conditions

a law of thermodynamics

Boyle's law

b

: a general relation proved or assumed to hold between mathematical or logical expressions

law

2 of 2

verb

lawed; lawing; laws

intransitive verb

: litigate

transitive verb

chiefly dialectal : to sue or prosecute at law

Phrases

at law

: under or within the provisions of the law

enforceable at law

Synonyms

Noun

• act
• bill
• constitution
• enactment
• ordinance
• statute

Choose the Right Synonym for law

law, rule, regulation, precept, statute, ordinance, canon mean a principle governing action or procedure.

law implies imposition by a sovereign authority and the obligation of obedience on the part of all subject to that authority.

obey the law

rule applies to more restricted or specific situations.

the rules of the game

regulation implies prescription by authority in order to control an organization or system.

regulations affecting nuclear power plants

precept commonly suggests something advisory and not obligatory communicated typically through teaching.

the precepts of effective writing

statute implies a law enacted by a legislative body.

a statute requiring the use of seat belts

ordinance applies to an order governing some detail of procedure or conduct enforced by a limited authority such as a municipality.

a city ordinance

canon suggests in nonreligious use a principle or rule of behavior or procedure commonly accepted as a valid guide.

the canons of good taste

synonyms see in addition hypothesis

Examples of law in a Sentence

Noun

The courts exist to uphold, interpret, and apply the law.

a lawyer who specializes in criminal law

In our civics class we learned how a bill becomes a law.

She has proposed a new law to protect people from being evicted unfairly.

Schools are required by law to provide a safe learning environment.

The bill will become law at the beginning of the year.

He's been in and out of trouble with the law for the last 10 years.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The 2-1 decision from the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday comes as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear a challenge to a similar law in Tennessee, which may ultimately determine whether all such state laws around the country can be enforced. —Reuters, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024

The Hungarian has transformed his country’s democratic system by changing electoral laws to ensure only his party can win elections. —Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 13 Nov. 2024

And in only one case did the delivery person scan the buyer’s ID, as required by federal law. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024

Over and over, conservation groups have sued to demand full reviews, which can be required by federal law. —April Ehrlich, ProPublica, 12 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Old English lagu, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse lǫg law; akin to Old English licgan to lie — more at lie

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing law

• above the law
• administrative law
• against the law
• a law unto oneself
• anti-SLAPP law
• attorney-at-law
• aunt-in-law
• biogenetic law
• blue law
• blue-sky law
• Boyle's law
• break/violate the law
• brother-in-law
• canon law
• case law
• civil law
• common law
• common-law marriage
• Coulomb's law
• counselor-at-law
• court of law
• criminal law
• daughter-in-law
• decree-law
• dietary law
• enforce the law
• extreme risk law
• father-in-law
• first law
• fundamental law
• go to law
• Gresham's law
• Grimm's law
• Hardy-Weinberg law
• heartbeat law
• heir at law
• higher law
• homestead law
• Hooke's law
• in-law
• in-law apartment
• international law
• inverse square law
• law-abiding
• law and order
• law clerk
• law court
• law enforcement
• law firm
• law merchant
• law of averages
• law of definite proportions
• law of dominance
• law of independent assortment
• law of large numbers
• law of nations
• law of noncontradiction
• law of parsimony
• law of segregation
• law of supply and demand
• law of war
• law school
• lay down the law
• leash law
• lemon law
• licensing law
• lynch law
• martial law
• Mendel's law
• Moore's law
• mother-in-law
• mother-in-law apartment
• natural law
• Ohm's law
• on the right side of the law
• on the wrong side of the law
• outside the law
• parent-in-law
• parliamentary law
• pass into law
• periodic law
• poor law
• positive law
• practice law
• private law
• public law
• red flag law
• roman law
• rule of law
• Salic law
• serjeant-at-law
• shield law
• sign into law
• sister-in-law
• someone's word is law
• son-in-law
• stand your ground law
• take the law into one's own hands
• the law
• the law of averages
• the law of the jungle
• the law of the land
• the letter of the law
• the long arm of the law
• the spirit of the law
• trigger law
• uncle-in-law
• unwritten law
• Verner's law
• within the law

Kids Definition

law

noun

ˈlȯ

1

a

: a rule of conduct or action laid down and enforced by the supreme governing authority (as the legislature) of a community or established by custom

b

: the whole collection of such rules

the law of the land

c

: the control brought about by enforcing rules

forces of law and order

d

: trial in a court to decide what is just and right according to the laws

go to law

e

: an agent or agency for enforcing laws

2

capitalized : the first part of the Jewish scriptures compare hagiographa, prophets

3

: a basic rule or principle

the laws of poetry

4

a

: the profession of a lawyer

b

: the branch of knowledge that deals with laws and their interpretation and application

study law

5

: a rule or principle stating something that always works in the same way under the same conditions

the law of gravity

Medical Definition

law

noun

ˈlȯ 

: a statement of order or relation holding for certain phenomena that so far as is known is invariable under the given conditions

Legal Definition

law

noun

ˈlȯ 

1

: a rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority: as

a

: a command or provision enacted by a legislature see also statute sense 1

b

: something (as a judicial decision) authoritatively accorded binding or controlling effect in the administration of justice

that case is no longer the law of this circuit

2

a

: a body of laws

the law of a state

broadly : laws and justice considered as a general and established entity

the law looks with disfavor on restraints on alienation

b

: common law compare equity sense 2

3

a

: the control or authority of the law

maintain law and order

b

: one or more agents or agencies involved in enforcing laws

c

: the application of a law or laws as distinct from considerations of fact

an error of law

see also issue of law at issue, matter of law at matter, question of law at question sense 2

4

: the whole body of laws and doctrines relating to one subject

contract law

the law of attractive nuisance

5

a

: the legal profession

practice law

b

: the nature, use, and effects of laws and legal systems as an area of knowledge or society

the politics of law

compare jurisprudence

Etymology

Noun

Old English lagu, of Scandinavian origin

Biographical Definition

Law 1 of 4

biographical name (1)

ˈlȯ 

(Andrew) Bon*ar ˈbä-nər  1858–1923 British (Canadian-born) statesman

Law

2 of 4

biographical name (2)

Edward 1750–1818 1st Baron Ellenborough ˈe-lən-ˌbər-ə 

-ˌbə-rə,

-brə

English jurist

Law

3 of 4

biographical name (3)

John 1671–1729 Scottish financier and speculator

Law

4 of 4

biographical name (4)

William 1686–1761 English writer