higher law

noun

Definition of higher law

: a principle of divine or moral law that is considered to be superior to constitutions and enacted legislation

Examples of higher law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This was expected; such sanctuary was understood purely as moral confrontation, proclaiming a righteous and sheltering higher law. — Rafil Kroll-zaidi, The New York Review of Books, "The Revival of Church Sanctuary," 3 Nov. 2020 No call for revenge, or for putting history on trial; only an appeal to a higher law. — Olivier Rolin, The New York Review of Books, "Yuri Dmitriev: Historian of Stalin’s Gulag, Victim of Putin’s Repression," 7 Oct. 2020 Apocalypse has exposed human ruthlessness and set it loose as the highest law. — Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, "Lorraine Hansberry’s Roving Global Vision," 4 May 2020 The Bible, which, for the devout, is a higher law than the Romans or the Constitution, says, Thou shalt not kill. — Nr Editors, National Review, "The Week," 16 Apr. 2020 So, too, must be praise and blame. That the highest law in the land outlines this arrangement is, by itself, reason enough to demand it be followed to the letter. — Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, "COVID Federalism," 16 Apr. 2020 Those looking to unseat the first black woman to hold the county's highest law enforcement position, have blasted her handling of the matter as haphazard and indecisive. — Don Babwin, Anchorage Daily News, "Actor Jussie Smollett faces 6 new charges in Chicago," 11 Feb. 2020 But China’s highest law-enforcement body, the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, lashed out by accusing Li of encouraging crime. — Shirley Zhao, Fortune, "Hong Kong’s Richest Man Giving $127 Million to Help Local Businesses Survive Political Upheaval," 4 Oct. 2019 AG Barr is the highest law enforcement officer & the worst. — Breanna Edwards, Essence, "Maxine Waters Says Trump Should Be Imprisoned And Placed In Solitary Confinement," 2 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'higher law.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near higher law

higher functional calculus

higher institution

higher learning

higher mathematics

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Cite this Entry

“Higher law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/higher%20law. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.

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