civil law

noun

often capitalized C&L

1

: Roman law especially as set forth in the Justinian code

2

: the body of private law developed from Roman law and used in Louisiana and in many countries outside the English-speaking world

3

: the law established by a nation or state for its own jurisdiction

4

: the law of civil or private rights

Examples of civil law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The multi-ethnic, multi-faith country has a dual-track legal system with Islamic laws for Muslims running alongside civil laws. —Reuters, NBC News, 21 Aug. 2023

Federal law provides broad immunity to gun makers from tort litigation, or civil law complaints. —Michael Steinberger, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2023

Jason Cantrell was a lawyer who specialized in criminal defense, civil law, and family law. —Doc Louallen, USA TODAY, 14 Aug. 2023

Ultra-Orthodox parties don’t want the courts to strike down special privileges such as draft exemptions for yeshiva students or curtail their authority over marriages and other civil law. —Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 25 July 2023

Robert Miller, an expert on Indian Law at Arizona State University College of Law, said civil law offers broad protections against lawsuits for tribal governments. —Amy Yurkanin | [e-mail], al, 21 July 2023

Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages to the fullest extent permitted by law. —PCMAG, 4 Aug. 2023

Any attempt to deliberately damage the Sponsor's website(s) or undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes may be in violation of U.S. criminal and civil laws and will result in disqualification from participation in the Sweepstakes. —PCMAG, 4 Aug. 2023

Does this mean religion now tops civil law, and the Civil Rights Act is null and void? —Arkansas Online, 5 July 2023

See More

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

civil law

noun

often capitalized C&L

1

: Roman law especially as set forth in the Code of Justinian

2

: the body of law developed from Roman law and used in Louisiana, in continental Europe, and in many other countries outside of the English-speaking world including especially those that were colonized by countries of continental Europe compare common law

Note: Although Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. whose law is based entirely on civil law, remnants of civil law remain in other states (as Texas and California) in which countries of continental Europe had a strong influence.

3

: the law established by a nation or state for its own jurisdiction

4

: the law that applies to private rights especially as opposed to the law that applies to criminal matters compare criminal law