An Encylopedia Britannica Company

law

law /ˈlɑː/ noun
plural laws
law
/ˈlɑː/
noun
plural laws
Britannica Dictionary definition of LAW
[noncount]
: the whole system or set of rules made by the government of a town, state, country, etc.
see also martial law
: a particular kind of law
see also common law
: a rule made by the government of a town, state, country, etc.
[count]
often + on or against
[noncount]
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
[noncount]
: the job of a lawyer : the legal profession
see also attorney at law
: the area of study that relates to laws and how they are used
[count]
: a rule stating that something (such as an art or profession) should be done in a certain way
British : a rule in a sport or game
[count] : a statement that describes how something works in the natural world often + of

above the law

: not required to obey the law

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.

go to law

British
: 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

lay down the law

see lay down at 1lay

outside the law

: not agreeing with the law
: in an illegal way

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

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

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

the long arm of the law

see 1arm

within the law

: agreeing with the law
: in a legal way

your word is law

◊ If your word is law, other people must do what you say
law, rule, regulation, statute, and ordinance are statements about what people are allowed to do. A
law A
rule A
regulation is made by a government to protect people from being harmed.
statute In the U.S., an
ordinance is a law that is made by a local government and applies only to a limited area.