SINCE 1828
law
noun
\ ˈlȯ
\
\
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The decrees were judged not to be law and were therefore rescinded.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
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
at law
: under or within the provisions of the law
enforceable at law
law
verb
lawed;
lawing;
laws
Definition of law (Entry 2 of 6)
chiefly dialectal
: to sue or prosecute at law
Law
biographical name (1)
\ ˈlȯ
\
\
Definition of Law (Entry 3 of 6)
(Andrew) Bon*ar
\ ˈbä-nər \
1858–1923 British (Canadian-born) statesman
\
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
, -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
There's a reason people warn not to mix family and business—and those people likely aren't facing constant hypotheses on their relationships with siblings and in-laws. — Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, "Why Is Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Household Split From Kate Middleton and Prince William Such a Big Deal?," 15 Mar. 2019 New York City recently had to create a law to fight hair discrimination in the workplace. — Alyssa Hardy, Allure, "Bellami Hair Just Apologized to Jordyn Woods For Posting a Meme About Her "Bad Hair"," 14 Mar. 2019 Headed by Betsy DeVos, the Department of Education wants to eliminate laws governing for-profit trade and technical schools and roll back regulations protecting students against deceptive practices. — Chuck Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "The State of American Trade Schools," 13 Mar. 2019 The White House has rebuffed a request from the House Oversight Committee for documents related to the administration’s security-clearance decisions, amid questions about the clearance granted to President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. — Rebecca Ballhaus, WSJ, "White House Rebuffs Lawmakers on Security Clearances," 5 Mar. 2019 Some states have laws to protect people who call 911 in these instances. — Natasha Lavender, SELF, "What to Do if Your Friend Is Passed Out Drunk," 26 Feb. 2019 Sisters-in-law and Duchesses, both Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have worn been spotted sporting cape-dress or cape-jacket hybrids, marking a comeback of the simple cut in a very un-Little Red Riding Hood way. — Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, "How to Wear a Cape Like Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle," 28 Feb. 2019 Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is scheduled to testify before the two chambers of Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of hearings mandated by law. — Paul Kiernan, WSJ, "Federal Reserve Report Highlights ‘Resilient’ Financial System," 22 Feb. 2019 Although manufacturers are required by law to report shortages to the FDA, the information made available to the public can be vague, Michael Ganio, Pharm. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "There’s an Anxiety Drug Shortage—Here’s What You Need to Know," 11 Feb. 2019These 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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Statistics for law
Last Updated
19 Mar 2019
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
\ ˈlȯ
\
\
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
\ ˈlȯ
\
\
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
\ ˈlȯ
\
\
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
at law
: under or within the provisions of the law especially as opposed to equity
a remedy at law
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