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

: 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: as

a

: the body of law developed in England that is the basis of U.S. federal law and of state law of all the states of the U.S. except Louisiana

b

: the body of law developed in the English courts of law as distinguished from equity

Examples of common-law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Delaware’s trust statute says personal property held in trust is not void under the common-law rule against perpetuities, while real property in trust generally follows a 110-year rule. — Michael Gold Cfp, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

The remaining states, plus the District of Columbia, are common-law property states. — Miranda Marquit, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Aug. 2026

Noun

Many of the community property states are located in the West and Southwest, in part due to legal traditions inherited from Spain and Mexico rather than English common law. — Miranda Marquit, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Aug. 2026

Its roots include English common law dating back to the 17th century. — ABC News, 29 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1690, 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