law-abiding
adjective
law-abid·ing
ˈlȯ-ə-ˌbī-diŋ 
: abiding by or obedient to the law
law-abiding citizens
law-abidingness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of law-abiding in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Putting criminals away to keep them from terrorizing law-abiding citizens and preventing inmates from engaging in criminal activity from prison are critical to addressing the region’s violent crime epidemic, and therefore giving people freedom to go about their lives without fear of victimization.
—
Gustavo Flores-Macías, Foreign Affairs, 20 Mar. 2024
Despite the decades of bad press and costly litigation that ensued, pyramid schemes—or, to be precise, the ostensibly law-abiding companies that happen to be dead ringers for pyramid schemes—appear to be an immovable pillar of the American economy.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2024
The victims of another scam were law-abiding Asian Americans.
—Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 14 Mar. 2024
The bill defines a law-abiding citizen as anyone not barred from owning a gun.
—Katie Bernard, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2024
The focus on particular crimes has created a false sense of chaos and insecurity that threatens law-abiding immigrants, said Ana María Archila, a co-director of the Working Families Party, which is allied with labor unions and community organizations.
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024
Critics accused them of politicizing his death to thwart their rights as law-abiding gun owners.
—Terry Spencer, Fortune, 14 Feb. 2024
Superman, positive, law-abiding, and shaped by the loving Kents, belongs to the day.
—Josh Weiss, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
Evan is a law-abiding, decent reporter being held hostage for geopolitical leverage.
—Oliver Darcy, CNN, 8 Feb. 2024
Gustavo Flores-Macías, Foreign Affairs, 20 Mar. 2024
Despite the decades of bad press and costly litigation that ensued, pyramid schemes—or, to be precise, the ostensibly law-abiding companies that happen to be dead ringers for pyramid schemes—appear to be an immovable pillar of the American economy.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2024
The victims of another scam were law-abiding Asian Americans.
—Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 14 Mar. 2024
The bill defines a law-abiding citizen as anyone not barred from owning a gun.
—Katie Bernard, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2024
The focus on particular crimes has created a false sense of chaos and insecurity that threatens law-abiding immigrants, said Ana María Archila, a co-director of the Working Families Party, which is allied with labor unions and community organizations.
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024
Critics accused them of politicizing his death to thwart their rights as law-abiding gun owners.
—Terry Spencer, Fortune, 14 Feb. 2024
Superman, positive, law-abiding, and shaped by the loving Kents, belongs to the day.
—Josh Weiss, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
Evan is a law-abiding, decent reporter being held hostage for geopolitical leverage.
—Oliver Darcy, CNN, 8 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'law-abiding.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1834, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near law-abiding
Cite this Entry
“Law-abiding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/law-abiding. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
law-abiding
adjective
law-abid·ing
ˈlȯ-ə-ˌbīd-iŋ
: obedient to the law
Legal Definition
law-abiding
adjective
law-abid·ing
ˈlȯ-ə-ˈbī-diŋ
: abiding by or obedient to the law
law-abidingness
noun
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