jurisprudence

noun

ju·​ris·​pru·​dence ˌju̇r-əs-ˈprü-dᵊn(t)s 

1

: the science or philosophy of law

they have no theories of jurisprudence but … decide each case on its facts

—R. H. Bork

2

a

: a system or body of law

Roman jurisprudence

labor jurisprudence

b

: the course of court decisions as distinguished from legislation and doctrine

a tendency that has become apparent in the jurisprudence of the American courts

—Bernard Schwartz

3

: a department of law

medical jurisprudence

jurisprudential

ˌju̇r-əs-prü-ˈden(t)-shəl 

adjective

jurisprudentially

ˌju̇r-əs-prü-ˈden(t)-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

"For a farewell to our jurisprudent, I wish unto him the gladsome light of jurisprudence…." With this valedictory to English jurist Sir Thomas Littleton, another jurist, Sir Edward Coke, welcomed two new words into English. In 1628, his jurisprudence meant "knowledge of or skill in law," a now archaic sense that reflects the meaning of the word's root. Jurisprudence goes back to Latin prudentia juris (literally "skill in law"), from which was derived the Late Latin formation jurisprudentia, and subsequently the English word. The noun jurisprudent means "one skilled in law"—in other words, a jurist. There's also jurisprude, a somewhat rare 20th-century back-formation created from jurisprudence with influence from prude. It means "one who makes ostentatious show of jurisprudential learning."

Examples of jurisprudence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The advisory opinion will help shape the region’s legal systems as many countries incorporate its jurisprudence into their laws and constitutions. —Anastasia Moloney, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2024

For example, for practicing Muslims, the Islamic jurisprudence lays out strict guidelines on washing oneself. —Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 24 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see jurisprudent

First Known Use

1654, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

jurisprudence

noun

ju·​ris·​pru·​dence ˌju̇r-ə-ˈsprüd-ᵊn(t)s 

1

: a system of laws

2

: the science of law

3

: a department of law

medical jurisprudence

Legal Definition

jurisprudence

noun

ju·​ris·​pru·​dence ˌju̇r-əs-ˈprüd-ᵊns 

1

a

: a system or body of law

in the federal jurisprudence

especially : a body of law dealing with a specific issue or area

labor jurisprudence

b

: the course of court decisions as distinguished from legislation and doctrine

the jurisprudence decided under the source provisions

—Louisiana Civil Code

2

: the science or philosophy of law

they have no theories of jurisprudence but…decide each case on its facts

—R. H. Bork

jurisprudential

ˌju̇r-əs-prü-ˈden-chəl 

adjective

Etymology

Late Latin jurisprudentia knowledge of or skill in law, from Latin juris, genitive of jus right, law + prudentia wisdom, proficiency