civil law

noun

variants often Civil Law

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

Once a scam crosses into real estate and civil law, families are often left to navigate an expensive and exhausting legal system on their own. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026

In that sense, Mishpatim is not only civil law. —Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026

States such as Minnesota should also look to civil law as a basis for stopping baleful and unlawful ICE tactics. —Aziz Huq, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026

Many theologians, including conservatives within the Reformed tradition, rejected Rushdoony’s argument that ancient Israel’s civil laws should apply in modern states. —Art Jipson, The Conversation, 12 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for civil law

• allantois
• baccarat
• chickasaw
• mackinaw
• overawe
• oversaw
• quebecois
• yojana
• aa
• aha
• bashaw
• bradshaw

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