law

1 a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature a record number of laws were passed in that legislative session Synonyms act, bill, constitution, enactment, ordinance, statute Related Words command, commandment, decree, dictate, directive, edict, fiat, ruling; bylaw, ground rule, regulation, rule; amendment, legislation; common law, martial law; blue law; prohibition, proscription, restriction; canon, capitulary, encyclical Near Antonyms higher law

2 a collection or system of rules of conduct it's important to obey the law at all times, or else you might end up in jail Synonyms canon, constitution, decalogue, codeRelated Words discipline, establishment; common law, legislation

3 the department of government that keeps order, fights crime, and enforces statutes a petty thief who had somehow managed to avoid the law for most of his life Synonyms policeRelated Words judiciary, jurisprudence, justice