as in martial law
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Recent Examples of common law
Failure to pay child support is a misdemeanor and constructive criminal contempt is a common law crime that is not a felony but also has no maximum penalty.
—
Maryland Matters Staff, Baltimore Sun, 28 Feb. 2026
Police arrested Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office, which is a common law offen se in England, meaning it was established through prior court decisions rather than legislation.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
State law and case precedent, often referred to as common law, provide trademark protection for marks used in commerce.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 18 Feb. 2026
While under hypnosis, a common law enforcement practice at the time, Bianchi confessed to killing Mandic and Wilder, along with five of the Hillside Strangler victims.
—Kelsey Lentz, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for common law
Maryland Matters Staff, Baltimore Sun, 28 Feb. 2026
Police arrested Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office, which is a common law offen se in England, meaning it was established through prior court decisions rather than legislation.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
State law and case precedent, often referred to as common law, provide trademark protection for marks used in commerce.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 18 Feb. 2026
While under hypnosis, a common law enforcement practice at the time, Bianchi confessed to killing Mandic and Wilder, along with five of the Hillside Strangler victims.
—Kelsey Lentz, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for common law
Recent Examples of Synonyms for common law
Noun
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Violence was so prevalent that, in 1871, Grant invoked martial law in South Carolina.—
Kori Schake,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2026
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When then- President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law imposition in late 2024 triggered the most severe crisis for the country’s democracy in decades, protesters gathered in the square, calling for his ouster.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Last week, a bill that would have codifed Idaho’s existing program in statute and grant the Attorney General’s Office authority to investigate and prosecute providers for fraud failed to pass the Senate.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Mar. 2026
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If passed, Georgia would become the third state to target immigrants specifically for DNA collection, following Florida’s 2023 law and Oklahoma’s 2009 statute.—
Charlotte Kramon,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Common law.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/common%20law. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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