law
noun
\
Definition of law
(Entry 1 of 6)
1a(1) : a binding custom or practice of a community : a rule of conduct or action prescribed (see prescribe sense 1a) or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority
(2) : the whole body of such customs, practices, or rules The courts exist to uphold, interpret, and apply the law.
(3) : common law
b(1) : the control brought about by the existence or enforcement of such law preserved law and order in the town
(2) : the action of laws considered as a means of redressing wrongs also : litigation developed the habit of going to law over the slightest provocation — H. A. Overstreet
(3) : the agency of or an agent of established law When he saw that the fighting was escalating, he called in the law.
c : a rule or order that it is advisable or obligatory to observe a law of self-preservation
d : something compatible with or enforceable by established law The decrees were judged not to be law and were therefore rescinded.
2a often capitalized : the revelation of the will of God set forth in the Old Testament
b capitalized : the first part of the Jewish scriptures : pentateuch, torah — see Bible Table
3 : a rule of construction or procedure the laws of poetry
4 : the whole body of laws relating to one subject criminal law probate law
5a : the legal profession studied for a career in law
b : law as a department of knowledge : jurisprudence
c : legal knowledge a man with much history but little law
6a : a statement of an order or relation of phenomena that so far as is known is invariable under the given conditions a law of thermodynamics Boyle's law
b : a general relation proved or assumed to hold between mathematical or logical expressions
: under or within the provisions of the law enforceable at law
law
verbDefinition of law (Entry 2 of 6)
chiefly dialectal : to sue or prosecute at law
Law
biographical name (1)
\
Definition of Law (Entry 3 of 6)
(Andrew) Bon*ar
\ˈbä-nər
\
1858–1923 British (Canadian-born) statesman
Law
biographical name (2)Definition of Law (Entry 4 of 6)
Edward 1750–1818 1st Baron
Ellenborough
\ˈe-lən-ˌbər-ə,
-ˌbə-rə, -brə\
English jurist
Law
biographical name (3)Definition of Law (Entry 5 of 6)
John 1671–1729 Scottish financier and speculator
Law
biographical name (4)Definition of Law (Entry 6 of 6)
William 1686–1761 English writer
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Synonyms for law
Synonyms: Noun
act, bill, constitution, enactment, ordinance, statute
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Examples of law in a Sentence
Noun
The courts exist to uphold, interpret, and apply the law. a lawyer who specializes in criminal law In our civics class we learned how a bill becomes a law. She has proposed a new law to protect people from being evicted unfairly. Schools are required by law to provide a safe learning environment. The bill will become law at the beginning of the year. He's been in and out of trouble with the law for the last 10 years.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The scrutiny intensified Friday when the state’s attorney general directed the state consumer-protection agency to look into whether marketing practices at Temple broke the law, and if the university’s other schools falsified student data. — Kelsey Gee, WSJ, "Temple University Fires a Dean Over Falsified M.B.A. Rankings Data," 13 July 2018 But the bill is not without controversy: Some scientists and environmental groups say Young's revisions to the law would be damaging and result in overfishing. — Erica Martinson, Anchorage Daily News, "Don Young’s bill to revise Magnuson-Stevens fishing law passes U.S. House," 13 July 2018 Rallies against the proposed law took place around the country. — Fox News, "Vietnam to try American for disturbing order in protests," 13 July 2018 If passed, the new legislation would also change the education laws to establish safe walking home zones-- local chambers of commerce would construct these pathways to and from schools. — Danielle Garrand, CBS News, "Justice For Junior: NY proposes legislation to require small businesses to be safe havens for minors," 13 July 2018 Current Time 0:00 / Duration 1:59 Naked criminals exposed Advertisement When naked criminals tangle with the law, things get a bit blurry. — Matthew Martinez, star-telegram, "‘Commotion’ in the courthouse stairwell was an inmate having sex with a woman, La. cops say," 13 July 2018 Chief Justice Dipak Misra indicated the apex court would likely decriminalize the law. — Jennie Neufeld, Vox, "Vox Sentences: NATOhhh no...," 12 July 2018 The law that prevents nude or semi-nude performers from being touched by or touching audience members was passed in 2007, but Daniels is only the 23rd person to be arrested for it, per TMZ. — Sarah Spellings, The Cut, "Stormy Daniels Arrested While Performing at Strip Club," 12 July 2018 The 1942 law that prohibits them is unevenly enforced. — Ted Slowik, Daily Southtown, "Slowik: I’m for legalizing fireworks if taxes fund safety education," 11 July 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'law.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
'Positive', 'Cheat', and 7 Other Words...
'Positive', 'Cheat', and 7 Other Words from Law
Don't be an ignoramus
Statistics for law
Last Updated
15 Oct 2018
Look-up Popularity
Time Traveler for law
The first known use of law was before the 12th century
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More Definitions for law
law
noun
English Language Learners Definition of law
: the whole system or set of rules made by the government of a town, state, country, etc.
: a particular kind of law
: a rule made by the government of a town, state, country, etc.
See the full definition for law in the English Language Learners Dictionary
law
noun
\
Kids Definition of law
1 : a rule of conduct or action that a nation or a group of people agrees to follow
2 : a whole collection of established rules the law of the land
3 : a rule or principle that always works the same way under the same conditions the law of gravity
4 : a bill passed by a legislature
6 : the profession of a lawyer
law
noun
\
Medical Definition of law
: a statement of order or relation holding for certain phenomena that so far as is known is invariable under the given conditions
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law
noun
\
Legal Definition of law
1 : a rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority: as
a : a command or provision enacted by a legislature — see also statute sense 1
b : something (as a judicial decision) authoritatively accorded binding or controlling effect in the administration of justice that case is no longer the law of this circuit
2a : a body of laws the law of a state broadly : laws and justice considered as a general and established entity the law looks with disfavor on restraints on alienation
b : common law — compare equity sense 2
3a : the control or authority of the law maintain law and order
b : one or more agents or agencies involved in enforcing laws
c : the application of a law or laws as distinct from considerations of fact an error of law — see also issue of law at issue, matter of law at matter, question of law at question sense 2
4 : the whole body of laws and doctrines relating to one subject contract law the law of attractive nuisance
5a : the legal profession practice law
b : the nature, use, and effects of laws and legal systems as an area of knowledge or society the politics of law — compare jurisprudence
: under or within the provisions of the law especially as opposed to equity a remedy at law
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