law 
/ˈlɑ:/ noun
plural laws /ˈlɑ:/ noun 1 [noncount] a : the whole system or set of rules made by the government of a town, state, country, etc.
▪ People who are supposed to obey the law also need to know their rights under the law. [=according to the law] ▪ The courts exist to uphold, interpret, and apply the law. ▪ state/federal law ▪ Stealing is against the law. [=stealing is illegal] ▪ He denied that he had broken/violated the law. [=that he had done anything illegal] ▪ You have to pay taxes. That's the law of the land. [=the set of rules that exists in a certain place] ▪ The job of the police is to enforce the law. [=make sure that people obey the law] ▪ He's interested in a career in law enforcement. [=a career as a police officer] ▪ (US) Law enforcement officials [=police officials] in the area were alerted of the suspect's escape. — see also martial law
b : a particular kind of law
▪ a lawyer who specializes in criminal/contract/immigration law — see also common law 2 : a rule made by the government of a town, state, country, etc. [count] ▪ A law requires that schools provide a safe learning environment. = There is a law requiring schools to provide a safe learning environment. ▪ In our civics class we learned how a bill becomes a law. ▪ She has proposed a new law to protect people from being evicted unfairly. — often + on or against ▪ Congress passed several new laws on the environment. [=laws relating to the environment] ▪ a law against unfair eviction [=a law that makes unfair eviction illegal] ▪ We need stricter laws against discrimination. [noncount] ▪ Schools are required by law to provide a safe learning environment. ▪ The bill will become law at the beginning of the year. ▪ With the majority voting in favor, the bill has been passed into law. [=the bill became a law] ▪ The bill was signed into law by the governor. [=the proposed law became officially active when the governor signed it] 3 the law : the people and organizations (such as the police and the courts) whose job is to find or punish people who do not obey laws
▪ They called in the law [=the police] to determine what should be done next. ▪ He's been in and out of trouble with the law for the last 10 years. 4 [noncount] a : the job of a lawyer : the legal profession
▪ She's been thinking about going into law. [=thinking about becoming a lawyer] ▪ a career in law ▪ The company hired a large law firm [=a group of lawyers who work together as a business] to handle the case. ▪ She practices law [=she works as a lawyer] with a firm in Boston. — see also attorney at law
b : the area of study that relates to laws and how they are used
▪ a professor of law ▪ studying law ▪ going to law school [=a school that trains you to become a lawyer] 5 : a religious rule [count] ▪ the body of Islamic laws [noncount] ▪ according to Jewish law 6 [count] a : a rule stating that something (such as an art or profession) should be done in a certain way
▪ the laws of poetry ▪ He teaches his students that balance is the first law of architecture. [=balance is the most important principle in architecture]
b Brit : a rule in a sport or game
▪ the laws [=rules] of tennis 7 [count] : a statement that describes how something works in the natural world — often + of ▪ the law of gravity ▪ the laws of nature/physics ▪ Newton's laws of motion
▪ People who are supposed to obey the law also need to know their rights under the law. [=according to the law] ▪ The courts exist to uphold, interpret, and apply the law. ▪ state/federal law ▪ Stealing is against the law. [=stealing is illegal] ▪ He denied that he had broken/violated the law. [=that he had done anything illegal] ▪ You have to pay taxes. That's the law of the land. [=the set of rules that exists in a certain place] ▪ The job of the police is to enforce the law. [=make sure that people obey the law] ▪ He's interested in a career in law enforcement. [=a career as a police officer] ▪ (US) Law enforcement officials [=police officials] in the area were alerted of the suspect's escape. — see also martial law
b : a particular kind of law
▪ a lawyer who specializes in criminal/contract/immigration law — see also common law
▪ They called in the law [=the police] to determine what should be done next. ▪ He's been in and out of trouble with the law for the last 10 years.
▪ She's been thinking about going into law. [=thinking about becoming a lawyer] ▪ a career in law ▪ The company hired a large law firm [=a group of lawyers who work together as a business] to handle the case. ▪ She practices law [=she works as a lawyer] with a firm in Boston. — see also attorney at law
b : the area of study that relates to laws and how they are used
▪ a professor of law ▪ studying law ▪ going to law school [=a school that trains you to become a lawyer]
▪ the laws of poetry ▪ He teaches his students that balance is the first law of architecture. [=balance is the most important principle in architecture]
b Brit : a rule in a sport or game
▪ the laws [=rules] of tennis
above the law
: not required to obey the law
▪ No one is above the law. [=everyone must obey the law] ▪ He complains that the new policy places corporations above the law. [=that the new policy allows corporations to do things that are not legal]
▪ No one is above the law. [=everyone must obey the law] ▪ He complains that the new policy places corporations above the law. [=that the new policy allows corporations to do things that are not legal]
a law unto yourself
◊People who are or think they are a law unto themselves act in a way that shows they do not care what kind of behavior other people think is acceptable.
▪ I've warned him that he can't keep behaving this way, but he won't listen. He seems to think that he's a law unto himself. [=that he can do whatever he wants to do]
▪ I've warned him that he can't keep behaving this way, but he won't listen. He seems to think that he's a law unto himself. [=that he can do whatever he wants to do]
go to law
Brit : to ask a court of law to settle a dispute
law and order
: a state or situation in which people obey the law : legal control and authority
▪ The police work to preserve law and order. ▪ a breakdown of law and order
▪ The police work to preserve law and order. ▪ a breakdown of law and order
lay down the law — see lay down at 1lay
outside the law 1 : not agreeing with the law
▪ actions that may have been outside the law [=illegal] 2 : in an illegal way
▪ Investigators were unable to prove that the business was operating outside the law. [=illegally]
▪ actions that may have been outside the law [=illegal]
▪ Investigators were unable to prove that the business was operating outside the law. [=illegally]
take the law into your own hands
: to try to punish someone for breaking a law even though you do not have the right to do that
▪ Police are concerned that the victim's family may try to take the law into their own hands. [=may try to punish the criminal themselves instead of allowing the legal system to do it]
▪ Police are concerned that the victim's family may try to take the law into their own hands. [=may try to punish the criminal themselves instead of allowing the legal system to do it]
the law of averages
: the idea or principle that something which can produce different results will produce those results in a regular or predictable way over a period of time
▪ I can't believe that team has lost 12 games in a row. The law of averages says that they should have won at least one game by now.
▪ I can't believe that team has lost 12 games in a row. The law of averages says that they should have won at least one game by now.
the law of the jungle
— used to describe a situation in which people do whatever they want to or whatever is necessary to survive or succeed ▪ an industry governed by the law of the jungle
the long arm of the law — see 1arm
within the law 1 : agreeing with the law
▪ He says that everything he did was within the law. [=legal] 2 : in a legal way
▪ With the organization under so much scrutiny, it is even more important that they work/operate within the law. [=legally]
▪ He says that everything he did was within the law. [=legal]
▪ With the organization under so much scrutiny, it is even more important that they work/operate within the law. [=legally]
your word is law
◊If your word is law, other people must do what you say
▪ He'll listen to suggestions, but in the end, his word is law.
▪ He'll listen to suggestions, but in the end, his word is law.
synonyms law, rule, regulation, statute, and ordinance are statements about what people are allowed to do. A law is made by a government, and people who live in the area controlled by that government must obey it.
▪ According to a state law, all drivers must pass a written test before they can be fully licensed. A rule usually does not involve an official government. It typically describes what people are allowed to do in a game or in a particular place (such as a school). ▪ He explained the rules of football. ▪ The rules state clearly that smoking is prohibited on campus. A regulation is made by a government to protect people from being harmed. ▪ Safety regulations limit the number of hours an airline pilot can fly each month. statute is a formal word for a law made by a government. ▪ The new statute requires that all passengers in a car wear seatbelts. In the U.S., an ordinance is a law that is made by a local government and applies only to a limited area. ▪ The new city ordinance restricts parking on some streets.
▪ According to a state law, all drivers must pass a written test before they can be fully licensed. A rule usually does not involve an official government. It typically describes what people are allowed to do in a game or in a particular place (such as a school). ▪ He explained the rules of football. ▪ The rules state clearly that smoking is prohibited on campus. A regulation is made by a government to protect people from being harmed. ▪ Safety regulations limit the number of hours an airline pilot can fly each month. statute is a formal word for a law made by a government. ▪ The new statute requires that all passengers in a car wear seatbelts. In the U.S., an ordinance is a law that is made by a local government and applies only to a limited area. ▪ The new city ordinance restricts parking on some streets.
