law

1 of 2

noun

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The decrees were judged not to be law and were therefore rescinded.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

transitive verb

chiefly dialectal : to sue or prosecute at law
Phrases
at law
: under or within the provisions of the law
enforceable at law
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
Kelly's strategy was duplicated in Alabama after the state's Supreme Court there sparked a national debate over in vitro fertilization with a February decision that said frozen embryos were children under state law. Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2024 Town of Saukville Public Safety Referendum Under state law, the increase in the levy of the Town of Saukville for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2025, is limited to 0.757%, which results in a levy of $459,013. Journal Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2024 The case represents the Biden administration’s latest effort to hold a Big Tech giant accountable under US antitrust law. Brian Fung, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024 Under current law, a movie or TV show simply has to display a title card with the Georgia peach logo to claim the extra 10%. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 21 Mar. 2024 Such a request under Georgia law requires the judge's approval, and McAfee granted it Wednesday without significant comment. Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024 Boston’s planning laws are arcane; Massachusetts ranks toward the bottom of all states in new-construction permits. E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2024 Not that Barrett’s characters get to enjoy any of it, living by their own law within the narrowest of spaces. Hazlitt, 20 Mar. 2024 The planned law receiving overwhelming support, according to the government. Alan Wong, Fortune Asia, 9 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'law.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of law was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near law

Cite this Entry

“Law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/law. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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
: 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
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
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)

(Andrew) Bon*ar ˈbä-nər How to pronounce Law (audio) 1858–1923 British (Canadian-born) statesman

Law

2 of 4

biographical name (2)

Edward 1750–1818 1st Baron Ellenborough ˈe-lən-ˌbər-ə How to pronounce Law (audio)
-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

More from Merriam-Webster on law

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