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law definition

law (lô)

noun

    1. all the rules of conduct established and enforced by the authority, legislation, or custom of a given community, state, or other group
    2. any one of such rules
  2. the condition existing when obedience to such rules is general to establish law and order
  3. the branch of knowledge dealing with such rules; jurisprudence
  4. the system of courts in which such rules are referred to in defending one's rights, securing justice, etc. to resort to law to settle a matter
  5. all such rules having to do with a particular sphere of human activity business law
  6. common law, as distinguished from equity
  7. the profession of lawyers, judges, etc.: often with the
    1. a sequence of events in nature or in human activities that has been observed to occur with unvarying uniformity under the same conditions
      often law of nature
    2. the formulation in words of such a sequence the law of gravitation, the law of diminishing returns
  9. any rule or principle expected to be observed the laws of health, a law of grammar
  10. inherent tendency; instinct the law of self-preservation
  11. Eccles.
    1. a divine commandment
    2. all divine commandments collectively
  12. Math., Logic, etc. a general principle to which all applicable cases must conform the laws of exponents
  13. Sports, Brit. an allowance in distance or time as in a race; handicap

Etymology: ME lawe < OE lagu < Anglo-Norm *lagu, akin to ON lǫg, pl. of lag, something laid down or settled < IE base *legh-, to lie down > lie

intransitive verb, transitive verb

Informal, Dialectal to take legal action (against)
law Idioms

go to law

to take a problem or dispute to a law court for settlement

lay down the law

  1. to give explicit orders in an authoritative manner
  2. to give a scolding (to)

read law

to study to become a lawyer

the Law

  1. the Mosaic law, or the part of the Jewish Scriptures containing it; specif., the Pentateuch
  2. ☆ Informal a policeman or the police

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms law idiom

law law definition - legal

medical law definition - medical

telecom law definition - telecom

law Synonyms

law

n.

  1. The judicial system

    judicial procedure, judicature, legal process, the authorities, the legal authorities, the police, writ, writ of habeas corpus, due process, precept, summons, notice, warrant, bench warrant, search warrant, warrant of arrest, subpoena, garnishment, They*; see also authority 3, government 1, 2, legality.

  2. Bodies of the law

    code, constitution, organic act, criminal law, statute law, civil law, law of the press, maritime law, martial law, military law, private law, public law, commercial law, probate law, substantive law, statutory law, chancery, statutes, civil code, ordinances, precepts, equity, cases, archives, common law, canon law, decisions, unwritten law, natural law.

  3. An enactment

    statute, ordinance, regulation, rule, edict, decree, order, judicial decision, ruling, injunction, summons, act, charge, prescription, canon, caveat, enactment, requirement, demand, divestiture, rescript, commandment, mandate, dictate, precept, instruction, behest, bidding, legislation, bill, bylaw; see also command 1, indictment 2, warrant, writ.

  4. A principle

    foundation, fundamental, origin, source, ultimate cause, truth, truism, axiom, maxim, tenet, doctrine, ground, base, reason, rule, rule of action, theorem, guide, precept, usage, postulate, proposition, generalization, proposal, assumption, hard and fast rule; see also basis 1.

  5. The study of law, sense 1

    jurisprudence, legal precedent, legal science, equity, legal practice.

  6. Officers appointed to enforce the law

    district attorney, prosecuting attorney, sheriff, constable, state police, city police, lawman, the man*, cops*, pigs*; see also judge 1, lawyer, police, policeman.

  7. The Bible

    Word, Old and New Testaments, the Book, Gospel, Scripture, Revelation; see also Bible 2. See syn. study at theory.

law, in its specific application, implies prescription and enforcement by a ruling authority the law of the land; a rule may not be authoritatively enforced, but it is generally observed in the interests of order, uniformity, etc. the rules of golf; regulation refers to a rule of a group or organization, enforced by authority military regulations; a statute is a law enacted by a legislative body; an ordinance is a local, generally municipal, law; a canon is, in its original meaning, a law of a church, but the term is also used of any established rule or principle regarded as true or as a standard to judge by usage the canons of good taste

go to law*

take legal action, take to court, prosecute; see sue.

lay down the law*

establish rules, order, prohibit; see command 1.

read law

prepare for a career as lawyer, study law, practice law, attend law school.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

law Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • obey: All Kindred, even those of Caledonia, are welcome to attend, but should be mindful to obey the laws of Eboracum.

Converse of subject

  • govern: General The Agreement is governed by the laws of the United Kingdom.

Adjective modifier

  • applicable: Access to and use of the Site is subject to the following terms and conditions and all applicable laws.

Noun used with modifier

  • copyright: The latter may be dealt with under normal copyright laws.

Preposition: of

  • physics: As Kunstler points out, human innovation is constrained by the laws of physics.
law usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

law quotes

  Possession is nine points of the law.

-Anonymous

The deceased Gentlemanwas, weare informed, a native of Ashbourn, Derbyshire, at which place he was born in theYear of Grace, 217, and was consequently in the 1643rd year of his age. For some months the patriotic Old Man had been suffering from injuries sustained in his native town, so far back as Shrovetide in last year; he was at once removed (byappeal) to London, where he lingered in suspense till the law of death put its icy hand upon him, and claimed as another trophy to magisterial interference one who had long lived in the hearts of the people.

-Anonymous

Law is a bottomless pit.

-Arbuthnot,John

law quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"law." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/law>

APA Style

law. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/law

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