civil law
noun
often capitalized C&L
1
: Roman law especially as set forth in the Justinian code
2
: the body of private law developed from Roman law and used in Louisiana and in many countries outside the English-speaking world
3
: the law established by a nation or state for its own jurisdiction
4
: the law of civil or private rights
Examples of civil law in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Police officers can also be prosecuted under civil law.
—
The Week Staff, theweek, 23 Oct. 2024
Read More: Your Egg Prices Could Be So High Because of Price Gouging, Farm Group Says
While Plato’s immediate solution to price gouging was a civil law against the practice, which enabled consumers to sue gougers for damages, his longer-range solution was cultural.
—David Lay Williams, TIME, 2 Oct. 2024
For instance, the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act forbade the U.S. Army from enforcing civil laws without authorization from Congress or the president.
—Joseph F. Dunford, Foreign Affairs, 5 Jan. 2023
The parties involved often come from different legal traditions (e.g., common law, civil law, or hybrid systems).
—Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 19 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for civil law 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
The Week Staff, theweek, 23 Oct. 2024
Read More: Your Egg Prices Could Be So High Because of Price Gouging, Farm Group Says
While Plato’s immediate solution to price gouging was a civil law against the practice, which enabled consumers to sue gougers for damages, his longer-range solution was cultural.
—David Lay Williams, TIME, 2 Oct. 2024
For instance, the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act forbade the U.S. Army from enforcing civil laws without authorization from Congress or the president.
—Joseph F. Dunford, Foreign Affairs, 5 Jan. 2023
The parties involved often come from different legal traditions (e.g., common law, civil law, or hybrid systems).
—Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 19 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for civil law
Dictionary Entries Near civil law
Cite this Entry
“Civil law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20law. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share