criminal law

noun

: the law of crimes and their punishments

Examples of criminal law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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After learning of the problem last March, District Attorney Spencer Merriweather asked the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to determine if the analyst violated criminal law. Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2025 The criminal law code became British, while civil and property law in the province continued to follow the French model. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 May 2025 At the same time, progressives are too skittish about enforcing seemingly any criminal law, moderate Democrats don’t want to look like progressives, and Republicans are Republicans. Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 7 May 2025 Traditional school corporate counsel may not have much experience in criminal law; engaging additional counsel with experience in criminal procedures and Fourth Amendment protections can be helpful. Brian Boggs, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for criminal law

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of criminal law was in 1672

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Cite this Entry

“Criminal law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminal%20law. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

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.

More from Merriam-Webster on criminal law

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