law meaning and definition

LAW noun

Definition of law (noun)

1. the collection of rules imposed by authority
   • "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"
   • synonyms: jurisprudence
2. legal document setting forth rules governing a particular kind of activity
   • "there is a law against kidnapping"
3. a rule or body of rules of conduct inherent in human nature and essential to or binding upon human society
   • synonyms: natural law
4. a generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature
   • "the laws of thermodynamics"
   • synonyms: law of nature
5. the branch of philosophy concerned with the law and the principles that lead courts to make the decisions they do
   • synonyms: jurisprudence, legal philosophy
6. the learned profession that is mastered by graduate study in a law school and that is responsible for the judicial system
   • "he studied law at Yale"
   • synonyms: practice of law
7. the force of policemen and officers
   • "the law came looking for him"
   • synonyms: constabulary, police, police force