Law — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈlȯ/

Meaning & Definition of Law

Law (noun)

  1. a binding custom or practice of a community, a rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority
  2. the whole body of such customs, practices, or rules
  3. common law

Law (verb)

  1. litigate
  2. to sue or prosecute at law

Law (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  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"

    similar: act, bill, constitution, enactment, ordinance, statute
    related: 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

  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"

    similar: canon, code, constitution, decalogue
    related: 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"

    similar: police
    related: judiciary, jurisprudence, justice

Related Entry: Law-abiding (adjective)

Law-abiding is a different word from Law. The synonyms below are for law-abiding, not for law.

  1. readily giving in to the command or authority of another

    "the law-abiding citizens of the neighborhood did everything they could to help reduce street crime"

    similar: amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, obedient, submissive, tractable
    related: acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, duteous, dutiful, obliging, placable, soft, surrendering, yielding, fawning, kowtowing, obeisant, obsequious, servile, slavish, subordinate, subservient, decorous, disciplined, mannerly, orderly, constrained, curbed, inhibited, repressed, restrained, controllable, disciplinable, governable, handleable, manageable, tame, teachable, trainable, gentle, meek, mild
    opposite: balky, contrary, contumacious, defiant, disobedient, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, noncompliant, obstreperous, rebel, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, restive, unamenable, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful
    near: insurgent, mutinous, dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, peevish, pigheaded, self-willed, stubborn, unyielding, uncontrollable, unmanageable, wild, balky, defiant, perverse, resistant, bad, disorderly, errant, misbehaving, mischievous, naughty, ill-bred, undisciplined, dissident, nonconformist, disrespectful, ill-mannered, impolite, impudent, insolent, rude

Related Entry: Law-abidingness (noun)

Law-abidingness is a different word from Law. The synonyms below are for law-abidingness, not for law.

  1. as in integrity, honesty

    similar: decency, goodness, honesty, incorruptibility, integrity, righteousness, uprightness, virtuousness, blamelessness, faultlessness, guiltlessness, impeccability, innocence, innocency, irreproachability, irreproachableness, morality, virtue, chastity, purity, sinlessness, harmlessness, inoffensiveness
    opposite: blameworthiness, culpability, guilt, guiltiness, blame, fault, responsibility, corruption, criminality, depravity, evil, immorality, reprehensibleness, sinfulness, wickedness, harmfulness, offensiveness

Related Entry: Attorney-at-law (noun)

Attorney-at-law is a different word from Law. The synonyms below are for attorney-at-law, not for law.

  1. a person whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise about legal rights and obligations

    "the sign on the door read Blalock Smith, Attorney-at-Law"

    similar: advocate, attorney, counsel, counselor, counselor-at-law, lawyer, legal eagle
    related: cocounsel, district attorney, prosecuting attorney, prosecutor, solicitor, criminal lawyer, mouthpiece (slang), public defender, trial lawyer, jurist, lawgiver, lawmaker, legislator, solon, ambulance chaser, pettifogger, Philadelphia lawyer, shyster

Related Entry: Counselor-at-law (noun)

Counselor-at-law is a different word from Law. The synonyms below are for counselor-at-law, not for law.

  1. a person whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise about legal rights and obligations

    "enjoyed a distinguished career as a counselor-at-law for more than 40 years"

    similar: advocate, attorney, attorney-at-law, counsel, counselor, lawyer, legal eagle
    related: cocounsel, district attorney, prosecuting attorney, prosecutor, solicitor, criminal lawyer, mouthpiece (slang), public defender, trial lawyer, jurist, lawgiver, lawmaker, legislator, solon, ambulance chaser, pettifogger, Philadelphia lawyer, shyster

Related Entry: Heir at law (noun)

Heir at law is a different word from Law. The synonyms below are for heir at law, not for law.

  1. a person who has the right to inherit property

    "all of the heirs at law must be located before settlement of the estate is completed"

    similar: heir, inheritor, legatee
    related: claimant, heir apparent, representative, succeeder, successor, coheir, coheiress, heiress, assignee, beneficiary, devisee, grantee, descendant, scion

Related Entry: Martial law (noun)

Martial law is a different word from Law. The synonyms below are for martial law, not for law.

  1. control of an area by military forces rather than by the police

    "The government has declared martial law throughout the city to stop the riots."

    "an area placed under martial law"

    similar: common law, act, bill, constitution, enactment, law, ordinance, statute, command, commandment, decree, dictate, directive, edict, fiat, ruling, bylaw, ground rule, regulation, rule, amendment, legislation, blue law, prohibition, proscription, restriction, canon, capitulary, encyclical
    opposite: higher law

Related Entry: Break the law (phrase)

Break the law is a different word from Law. The synonyms below are for break the law, not for law.

  1. to commit an offense

    "It's not like she broke the law, so go easy on her."

    similar: err, fall, offend, sin, stray, transgress, trespass, wander, fall from grace
    related: breach, break, infringe, violate, backslide, lapse, mess up
    near: forgive, justify, pardon, regret, repent, rue

Related Entry: Court of law (phrase)

Court of law is a different word from Law. The synonyms below are for court of law, not for law.

  1. an assembly of persons for the administration of justice

    "He will be tried and sentenced in a court of law."

    similar: bar, bench, court, forum, tribunal
    related: criminal court, judicatory, judicature, judiciary, high court, supreme court, court-martial, drumhead court-martial, inquisition, kangaroo court

Related Entry: Blue law (noun)

Blue law is a different word from Law. The synonyms below are for blue law, not for law.

  1. as in law, rule

    similar: act, bill, constitution, enactment, law, ordinance, statute, command, commandment, decree, dictate, directive, edict, fiat, ruling, bylaw, ground rule, regulation, rule, prohibition, proscription, restriction, common law, martial law, canon, capitulary, encyclical, amendment, legislation

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Law

The most common words with a similar meaning to Law:

act, bill, constitution, enactment, ordinance, statute, canon, code, decalogue, police

Related Words for 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, capitulary, encyclical, discipline, establishment, judiciary, jurisprudence, justice

Word Forms of Law

Inflections: laws, lawed, lawing

Origin & Etymology of Law

Middle English, from Old English lagu, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse lǫg law; akin to Old English licgan to lie lie

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Law

Words & Phrases Containing Law

law-abiding, law and order, law-and-order, law clerk

Frequently Asked Questions about Law

What does "Law" mean?

"Law" means a binding custom or practice of a community, a rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a binding custom or practice of a community, a rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Law"?

Other words for "Law" include act, bill, constitution, enactment, ordinance, statute, canon and code. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Law" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Law"?

There are 37 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Law". Common alternatives include act, bill, constitution, enactment, ordinance, statute, canon, code, decalogue and police.

How do you use "Law" in a sentence?

Examples of "Law" in a sentence: "a record number of laws were passed in that legislative session"; "it's important to obey the law at all times, or else you might end up in jail"; "a petty thief who had somehow managed to avoid the law for most of his life".

Is "Law" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Law" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Law" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Law" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Law"?

"Law" is pronounced /ˈlȯ/.

What is the origin of the word "Law"?

"Law" comes from Middle English, from Old English lagu, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse lǫg law; akin to Old English licgan to lie lie. First known use: before 12th century.