common-law

1 of 2

adjective

com·​mon-law ˈkä-mən-ˌlȯ 

1

: of, relating to, or based on the common law

2

: relating to or based on a common-law marriage

common law

2 of 2

noun

: the body of law developed in England primarily from judicial decisions based on custom and precedent, unwritten in statute or code, and constituting the basis of the English legal system and of the system in all of the U.S. except Louisiana

Examples of common-law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In legal terms, the lawsuits are saying oil and gas companies violated consumer-protection laws and committed common-law civil violations such as negligence. —Hannah Wiseman, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 2025

Family Sponsorship: The Strongest Route Migrants in the U.S. with Canadian spouses or common-law partners may be eligible for family sponsorship—a straightforward path to permanent residence, typically without income requirements. —Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025

Noun

This interpretation is wildly beyond that used for common law employees under the Internal Revenue Code and the Fair Labor Standards Act. —Will Swaim, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2025

The reason why this distinction between common and statutory law matters, at least to Jackson, is because the concept of aiding and abetting arises out of the common law. —Ian Millhiser, Vox, 4 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1619, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for common-law

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

Kids Definition

common law

noun

: a group of legal practices and traditions originating in judges' decisions in earlier cases and in social customs and having the same force in most of the U.S. as if passed into law by a legislative body

Legal Definition

common law

1 of 2 noun

: a body of law that is based on custom and general principles and embodied in case law and that serves as precedent or is applied to situations not covered by statute

the common law of torts

: as

a

: the body of law that was first developed in the English courts of law as distinguished from equity and that allows for particular remedies (as damages or replevin)

in suits at common law…the right of trial by jury shall be preserved

—U.S. Constitution amend. VII

compare equity sense 2

b

: the body of law developed in England that is the basis of U.S. federal law and of state law in all states except Louisiana compare civil law sense 2, statutory law

common-law

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or based on the common law

common-law immunity

2

: relating to or based on a common-law marriage

her common-law husband