plural laws
1
a
: the whole system or set of rules made by the government of a town, state, country, etc.
People who are supposed to obey the law also need to know their rights under the law. [=according to the law]
The courts exist to uphold, interpret, and apply the law.
state/federal law
Stealing is against the law. [=stealing is illegal]
He denied that he had broken/violated the law. [=that he had done anything illegal]
You have to pay taxes. That's the law of the land. [=the set of rules that exists in a certain place]
The job of the police is to enforce the law. [=make sure that people obey the law]
He's interested in a career in law enforcement. [=a career as a police officer]
(US) Law enforcement officials [=police officials] in the area were alerted of the suspect's escape.
b
: a particular kind of law
a lawyer who specializes in criminal/contract/immigration law
2
: a rule made by the government of a town, state, country, etc.
A law requires that schools provide a safe learning environment. = There is a law requiring schools to provide a safe learning environment.
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.
—often + on or againstCongress passed several new laws on the environment. [=laws relating to the environment]
a law against unfair eviction [=a law that makes unfair eviction illegal]
We need stricter laws against discrimination.
Schools are required by law to provide a safe learning environment.
The bill will become law at the beginning of the year.
With the majority voting in favor, the bill has been passed into law. [=the bill became a law]
The bill was signed into law by the governor. [=the proposed law became officially active when the governor signed it]
3
: the people and organizations (such as the police and the courts) whose job is to find or punish people who do not obey laws
They called in the law [=the police] to determine what should be done next.
He's been in and out of trouble with the law for the last 10 years.
4
a
: the job of a lawyer : the legal profession
She's been thinking about going into law. [=thinking about becoming a lawyer]
a career in law
The company hired a large law firm [=a group of lawyers who work together as a business] to handle the case.
She practices law [=she works as a lawyer] with a firm in Boston.
b
: the area of study that relates to laws and how they are used
a professor of law
studying law
going to law school [=a school that trains you to become a lawyer]
5
: a religious rule
the body of Islamic laws
according to Jewish law
6
a
: a rule stating that something (such as an art or profession) should be done in a certain way
the laws of poetry
He teaches his students that balance is the first law of architecture. [=balance is the most important principle in architecture]
b
British
: a rule in a sport or game
the laws [=rules] of tennis
7
: a statement that describes how something works in the natural world
—often + of
the law of gravity
the laws of nature/physics
Newton's laws of motion
Cite this Entry
“Law.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/law. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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