criminal law

noun

: the law of crimes and their punishments

Examples of criminal law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Federal law strictly prohibits the publication of nonconsensual intimate imagery, including digital forgeries, and most states have passed criminal laws. — Bhakti Mirchandani, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Once a president can recast criminal law enforcement as war, the danger is not confined to Venezuela or foreign battlefields. — Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 25 June 2026

Some criminal law experts, however, said the reform has been long overdue. — Yumi Asada, CNN Money, 13 June 2026

The second agreement protects them not only from civil and criminal tax matters, but also from other potential violations of federal civil and criminal law. — Nick Akerman, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for criminal law

• avoirdupois
• aa
• aha
• bashaw
• bradshaw
• byelaw
• bylaw
• chainsaw
• cheraw
• coleslaw
• crenshaw
• dada

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.