natural law

noun

: a body of law or a specific principle held to be derived from nature and binding upon human society in the absence of or in addition to positive law

Examples of natural law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The series, on the air from 1957 and 1963, is a resonant symbol of ’50s nostalgia, one to which conservative Catholics have returned as a template for modeling natural law. —Peter H. Schwartz, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025

All of us are equal under human law, but not under natural law. —J.t. Barbarese, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025

This led to a revival in Thomistic theology and natural law philosophy throughout the Catholic world. —Samuel Gregg, National Review, 12 May 2025

But markets are tools, not moral imperatives or natural laws. —David Faris, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for natural law

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

Legal Definition

natural law

noun

: a body of law or a specific principle of law that is held to be derived from nature and binding upon human society in the absence of or in addition to positive law

Note: While natural law, based on a notion of timeless order, does not receive as much credence as it did formerly, it was an important influence on the enumeration of natural rights by Thomas Jefferson and others.