blue law
noun
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
Connecticut has historically followed what are known as blue laws, which restrict or prohibit certain activities on Sundays.
—
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2025
Colby told her followers that the poster was specifically made for racier venues during a time in history when there was a lot of back-and-forth on blue laws or moral codes.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
And keep in mind also that blue laws in Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island prohibit retailers from being open in those states.
—Bychris Morris, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2024
Banning alcohol sales on Sunday dates back to Prohibition-era blue laws in which religious groups sought to reserve the day for worship.
—Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Aug. 2024
New Jersey has a strong history of upholding its blue laws, but coastal protection has been at the forefront in recent years.
—Sarah Pulliam Bailey, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Shibe Park was home to some great teams, with the Athletics winning nine pennants and five World Series titles there, but ownership routinely cited the state’s restrictive blue laws for limiting their ability to play home games on Sundays, putting the club at a disadvantage to other teams.
—Benjamin Hoffman, New York Times, 26 May 2023
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, 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, 28 Oct. 2019
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2025
Colby told her followers that the poster was specifically made for racier venues during a time in history when there was a lot of back-and-forth on blue laws or moral codes.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
And keep in mind also that blue laws in Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island prohibit retailers from being open in those states.
—Bychris Morris, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2024
Banning alcohol sales on Sunday dates back to Prohibition-era blue laws in which religious groups sought to reserve the day for worship.
—Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Aug. 2024
New Jersey has a strong history of upholding its blue laws, but coastal protection has been at the forefront in recent years.
—Sarah Pulliam Bailey, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Shibe Park was home to some great teams, with the Athletics winning nine pennants and five World Series titles there, but ownership routinely cited the state’s restrictive blue laws for limiting their ability to play home games on Sundays, putting the club at a disadvantage to other teams.
—Benjamin Hoffman, New York Times, 26 May 2023
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, 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, 28 Oct. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Blue law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blue%20law. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share