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

Texas lawmakers passed a broad blue law in 1961 that prohibited the sale of 42 categories of goods, including clothing, appliances, housewares and hardware, on both Saturday and Sunday. — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 July 2026

While blue laws in Massachusetts require retailers to close on some holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, most stores are open for normal hours on Memorial Day. — Neal Riley, CBS News, 25 May 2026

There’s a divisive court battle happening in Bergen County over its 1700s-era blue laws, which limit sales on clothes, home decor and more. — Tim Craig, Washington Post, 10 May 2026

Two dueling proposals in the General Assembly change who gets paid under Rhode Island's blue laws. — Wheeler Cowperthwaite, The Providence Journal, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1755, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for blue law

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

Legal Definition

blue law

noun

: 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.

Etymology

blue puritanical