Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

law

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of 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 of law

act, bill, constitution, enactment, ordinance, statute
Words Related to law

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 of law

higher law
2 a collection or system of rules of conduct
  • itʼs important to obey the law at all times, or else you might end up in jail
Synonyms of law

canon, code, constitution, decalogue
Words Related to law

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 of law

police
Words Related to law

judiciary, jurisprudence, justice

Synonym Discussion of law

law, rule, regulation, precept, statute, ordinance, canon mean a principle governing action or procedure. law implies imposition by a sovereign authority and the obligation of obedience on the part of all subject to that authority.
    • obey the law
rule applies to more restricted or specific situations.
    • the rules of the game
regulation implies prescription by authority in order to control an organization or system.
    • regulations affecting nuclear power plants
precept commonly suggests something advisory and not obligatory communicated typically through teaching.
    • the precepts of effective writing
statute implies a law enacted by a legislative body.
    • a statute requiring the use of seat belts
ordinance applies to an order governing some detail of procedure or conduct enforced by a limited authority such as a municipality.
    • a city ordinance
canon suggests in nonreligious use a principle or rule of behavior or procedure commonly accepted as a valid guide.
    • the canons of good taste

synonyms see in addition hypothesis

Learn More about law

  1. See words that rhyme with law Dictionary: Definition of law Medical Dictionary: Definition of law Spanish Central: Translation of law Nglish: Translation of law for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of law for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up law? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

imbroglio

a complex dispute or argument

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. cache BuzzFeed reports on Trump-Cohen documents.

  2. intransigence, intransigent Trump cancels Davos trip.

  3. white supremacist Steve King discusses views.

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games