blue law

Definition of blue law

1 : one of numerous extremely rigorous laws designed to regulate morals and conduct in colonial New England

2 : a statute regulating work, commerce, and amusements on Sundays

Examples of blue law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Another thorny situation: The mall will abide by the blue laws, meaning retail will be closed Sundays even though the restaurants and theme parks will be open, says James Cassella, the East Rutherford, N.J. mayor. — CBS News, "Here's what you'll find when you hit America's newest mega-mall," 28 Oct. 2019 Another thorny situation: The mall will abide by the blue laws, meaning retail will be closed Sundays even though the restaurants and theme parks will be open, says James Cassella, the East Rutherford, N.J. mayor. — CBS News, "Here's what you'll find when you hit America's newest mega-mall," 28 Oct. 2019 All stores in Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island will be closed on Thanksgiving due to blue laws, which prohibit retailers from being open. — Chris Morris, Fortune, "What Stores Are Open (and Closed) on Thanksgiving Day 2019?," 27 Nov. 2019 Another thorny situation: The mall will abide by the blue laws, meaning retail will be closed Sundays even though the restaurants and theme parks will be open, says James Cassella, the East Rutherford, N.J. mayor. — CBS News, "Here's what you'll find when you hit America's newest mega-mall," 28 Oct. 2019 Another thorny situation: The mall will abide by the blue laws, meaning retail will be closed Sundays even though the restaurants and theme parks will be open, says James Cassella, the East Rutherford, N.J. mayor. — CBS News, "Here's what you'll find when you hit America's newest mega-mall," 28 Oct. 2019 Another thorny situation: The mall will abide by the blue laws, meaning retail will be closed Sundays even though the restaurants and theme parks will be open, says James Cassella, the East Rutherford, N.J. mayor. — CBS News, "Here's what you'll find when you hit America's newest mega-mall," 28 Oct. 2019 Another thorny situation: The mall will abide by the blue laws, meaning retail will be closed Sundays even though the restaurants and theme parks will be open, says James Cassella, the East Rutherford, N.J. mayor. — Washington Post, "Massive American Dream mall opens but will shoppers come?," 25 Oct. 2019 Another thorny situation: The mall will abide by the blue laws, meaning retail will be closed Sundays even though the restaurants and theme parks will be open, says James Cassella, the East Rutherford, N.J. mayor. — David Porter, Twin Cities, "Mall of America developer opens nation’s second-biggest mall in New Jersey. But will shoppers come?," 25 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'blue law.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Blue law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blue%20law. Accessed 23 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for blue law

blue law

noun

English Language Learners Definition of blue law

US : an old law that forbids people from doing certain things (such as working or selling alcohol) on Sundays

See the full definition for blue law in the English Language Learners Dictionary

blue law

noun

Legal Definition of blue law

: a statute regulating work, commerce, and amusements on Sunday

Note: Existing blue laws derive from the numerous extremely rigorous laws designed to regulate morals and conduct that were enacted in colonial New England.