international law

noun

: a body of rules that control or affect the rights of nations in their relations with each other

Examples of international law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Preventing Minnesota from issuing non-iron mining permits to bad actors who have violated specific international laws, such as corruption and bribery or natural resource destruction. —Mary Murphy, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2026

Prior administrations — fom Ronald Reagan to Joe Biden — typically depended on geopolitical experts in international law, history, or intelligence, such as George Shultz, Henry Kissinger, and Zbigniew Brzezinski. —Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026

Gan said any negotiations would implicitly undermine the bedrock principle of international law that ships must be allowed to navigate international waters unimpeded. —Chris Wellisz, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026

For Iran, the Strait of Hormuz is an international strait as set out under international law predating UNCLOS – notably the International Court of Justice’s ruling in the 1949 Corfu Channel case and the 1958 Territorial Seas Convention. —Elizabeth Mendenhall, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for international law

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

Legal Definition

international law

noun

: a body of laws, rules, or legal principles that are based on custom, treaties, or legislation and that control or affect the rights and duties of nations in relation to each other compare internal law