Meaning of law In English

• 0 a rule, usually made by a government, that is used to order the way in which a society behaves:

  • There are laws against drinking in the street.

  • The laws governing the possession of firearms are being reviewed.

  • They led the fight to impose laws on smoking.

  • [ + -ing verb or + to infinitive ] Many doctors backed plans for a law banning/to ban all tobacco advertising.

  • What does the law say about having alcohol in the blood while driving?

  • Of course robbery is against the law!

  • The judge ruled that the directors had knowingly broken the law.

  • You can't take that course of action and remain within the law.

  • They have to provide a contract by law.

  • It was a detailed study of international human rights law.

  • She's going to study law at university.

  • a law firm in New York

  • The law was/were out in force at the demonstration.

• 1 a general rule that states what always happens when the same conditions exist:

  • Newton's laws of motion

  • the laws of nature/physics

  • humorous The first law of (= the most important principle in) politics is - if you're going to lie, don't get found out!

• 2 a rule made by a government that states how people may and may not behave in society and in business, and that often orders particular punishments if they do not obey, or a system of such rules:

  • [ U ] civil/criminal law

  • [ U ] federal/state law

  • [ C ] We have a law in this state that drivers must wear seatbelts.

  • [ U ] She’s studying law at Georgetown University.

  • [ U ] Playing loud music late at night is against the law.

  • [ U ] He got in trouble with the law as a young man.

  • Several law enforcement officers were sent to Mexico to bring the prisoner back.

• 3 a general rule that states what always happens when the same conditions exist:

  • the laws of physics

• 4 a rule, usually made by a government, that states how people may and may not behave in a society, and often orders particular punishments if they do not obey:

  • a law against sth There is a law against aggressive telemarketing.

  • a law requires/states sth Senate leaders proposed a law requiring rigorous new scrutiny of all future tax breaks.

  • a law allows/forbids/prohibits sth Checks will be processed more quickly, thanks to a federal law allowing banks to use electronic images of checks.

  • the laws on/governing sth He plans changes to the laws on bankruptcy.

  • tax/anti-trust/environmental laws

• 5 the set or system of laws made by a government in a particular place:

  • UK/American/Indian, etc. law Promising magical remedies is prosecutable under Indian law.

  • federal/international/state law The hearing was required by federal law.

  • obey/respect the law Even the most powerful people have a duty to obey the law.

  • uphold/enforce the law

  • break/disobey/violate the law

  • It is against the law to hire undocumented workers in the U.S.

  • the law says/states/requires The law requires traders to state clearly what rate of exchange they are using.

  • by law By law, the maximum donation allowed is $5,000.

  • under the law Under the law, private equity is taxed in exactly the same manner as every other investment.

  • outside/within the law He took risks with his business dealings, but was careful to stay within the law.

• 6 the part of a set of laws that deals with a particular activity, business, or industry:

  • civil/common/criminal law

  • labour/tax/employment law

  • company/intellectual property/contract law

  • copyright/corporate/employment law

• 7 the study of law or the job of being a lawyer:

  • go into/practise/study law Her mother inspired her to study law.

  • law firm/practice/school This isn't just any law school, it's the one that has more judges in more courtrooms than any other.

  • a law degree/graduate/professor

• 8 the rules set by an organization that control how it and its members should behave:

  • the laws of sth Managers know how to promote a respectful working environment while maintaining the laws of the office.

  • Church law regulates the actions of the bishops.

• 9 a rule or normal way of behaving which the people who do an activity usually follow:

  • the laws of sth The laws of good business say you shake hands and make eye contact when you leave.

  • Out of all the laws of salesmanship, the first one to learn is to get a prospect's name.

  • Vendors have informal laws of their own about client-stealing.

• 10 a rule which states what always happens when the same conditions exist:

  • the law of sth The first law of thermodynamics says that energy is conserved in any process involving a thermodynamic system and its surroundings.

  • the laws of physics/science/economics According to the laws of physics this would not be possible.

• 11 the police or other officials who stop crime or catch criminals:

  • He had to swear he wasn't changing his name in order to run from the law.