law
Nature's consistent rule
A law is a rule that has some official sanction or truth. Statutory law is enacted by legislatures.
Common law is not necessarily enacted but is enforced by custom and precedent.
A law of nature is something that experience or experiment has proven to be true.
A mathematical law is a characteristic of numbers that can be proven or demonstrated as always being true.
As an uncountable noun, law (often the law) refers to the entire set of laws that regulate a society or those who enforce them: Under the law he could serve ten years in prison; She got in trouble with the law last month.
Enacted written rule
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- ordinanceOfficial government regulation
- codeSymbolic communication system
- decreeAuthoritative legal command
mandate · directive · act · provision · amendment · enactment · ratification · compliance
Trial venue or sports surface
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- judgeOne who decides
- juryLegal decision-making body
- verdictOfficial court decision
litigation · plaintiff · defendant · attorney · barrister · solicitor · advocate · testimony
Inherent physical or structural makeup
- civilMinimally polite
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- equalitySame status for all
human · due process · protection · discrimination · suffrage · entitlement · remedy · redress
Governing principle or standard
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
- precedentPrior authoritative example
- maximBrief moral principle
- axiomSelf-evident starting principle
tenet · canon · standard · norm · jurisprudence · equity · natural · common
Civil law enforcement
- officerAuthority figure in uniform
- arrestSeize by law
- detentionTemporary official holding
- investigationFormal examination of facts
crime · criminal · sheriff · constable · warden · patrol · custody · bail
statute
Enacted written rule
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- ordinanceOfficial government regulation
- codeSymbolic communication system
decree · mandate · directive · act · provision · amendment · enactment · ratification · compliance · enforcement
court
Trial venue or sports surface
verdict · litigation · plaintiff · defendant · attorney · barrister · solicitor · advocate · testimony · witness
constitution
Inherent physical or structural makeup
equality · human · due process · protection · discrimination · suffrage · entitlement · remedy · redress · habeas corpus
rule
Governing principle or standard
axiom · tenet · canon · standard · norm · jurisprudence · equity · natural · common · customary
police
Civil law enforcement
investigation · crime · criminal · sheriff · constable · warden · patrol · custody · bail · warrant
degree
Unit of measurement
firm · clerk · paralegal · profession · career · examination · moot · casebook · brief · contract
commandment
Authoritative rule to obey
dharma · canon · scripture · covenant · divine · moral · Mosaic · ecclesiastical · fatwa · prohibition
- fields of studyart, music, mathematics, history, biology
- topicsnature, health, sports, science, politics
- careersdoctor, teacher, engineer, nurse, chef
- civilization elementsart, music, literature, language, religion
- civilization topicsculture, trade, war, art, religion
- industriesbusiness, factories, education, health, supply chain
lawanarchy
Disorder from absent authority
chaos · lawlessness · disorder · misrule · pandemonium
lawlawbreaking
Committing illegal acts
crime · violation · transgression · criminality · illegality
lawsuggestion
Idea proposed for consideration
recommendation · guideline · advice · discretion · caprice
- against the lawForbidden by statute
- law firmAttorneys' business entity
- law schoolJD degree program
- law and orderGovernance through enforced rules
- law enforcementUpholding legal codes
- above the lawBeyond legal accountability
lawyer, claw, flaw, outlaw, laws, flawless, lawful, flawed, lawless