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
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Unlike most other defendants in cases the statute was intended to remedy, Moss did not carry out the violence herself.—
Pamela Colloff,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
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The commission agreed to allow Earthrise to mow the property only once between May and October, rather than five times as required by statute, as the company said more mowings could negatively affect native pollinators and habitats.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Common law.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/common%20law. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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