first law

noun

: the most important principle
He teaches his students that balance is the first law of architecture.

Examples of first law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 1643, Connecticut signed one of the first laws requiring local officials to assist in capturing enslaved runaways. Calista Oetama, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2026 However, a truly successful agent mirrors the protocol droid's ability to navigate nuance, culture and human anxiety—effectively operationalizing the spirit of Asimov's first law by ensuring human interaction is seamless and safe. Brijesh Prabhakar, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 Meanwhile, Utah recently passed what is believed to be the nation's first law requiring certain new data center developments to publicly disclose their annual water usage, the outlet reported. Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026 Colorado now has its first law restricting how AI chatbots can interact with kids. Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for first law

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“First law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first%20law. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster