criminal law

noun

: the law of crimes and their punishments

Examples of criminal law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Andrii Yakovliev, a defense counsel and expert on international humanitarian and criminal law at the Media Initiative for Human Rights, a Ukrainian NGO, told CNN that Ukraine ensures the conditions are in place for a fair trial, and that, in general, the country’s courts respect due process. —Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026

Under the country’s criminal law, participating in or financing an extremist organization is punishable by up to 12 years in prison. —Henry Austin, NBC news, 1 Feb. 2026

David Harris, a University of Pittsburgh law professor specializing in criminal law, said the charges against the protesters are more tenable, given the federal laws against disrupting the free exercise of worship. —Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026

The bulletin advises that California law enforcement agencies have primary authority to investigate potential violations of state criminal law and are not required to defer to federal authorities. —Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for criminal law

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

Legal Definition

criminal law

noun

: public law that deals with crimes and their prosecution compare civil law

Note: Substantive criminal law defines crimes, and procedural criminal law sets down criminal procedure. Substantive criminal law was originally common law for the most part. It was later codified and is now found in federal and state statutory law.