criminal law

noun

: the law of crimes and their punishments

Examples of criminal law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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 drama starring Stephen Amell and Josh McDermitt is set at a Los Angeles firm that specializes in entertainment and criminal law. Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Nov. 2024 India uses existing criminal laws for similar issues. Forrester, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 The Criminal Section officials would enforce federal criminal law that prohibits voter intimidation and suppression based on prejudice. Rey Covarrubias Jr., The Arizona Republic, 2 Nov. 2024 Married to my rapist: The Indian women saying no In July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government overhauled the country’s 164-year-old penal code with new criminal laws, but the exemption for marital rape stayed on the books. Helen Regan, CNN, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for criminal law 

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of criminal law was in 1672

Dictionary Entries Near criminal law

Cite this Entry

“Criminal law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminal%20law. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Legal Definition

criminal law

noun
: public law that deals with crimes and their prosecution compare civil law

Note: Substantive criminal law defines crimes, and procedural criminal law sets down criminal procedure. Substantive criminal law was originally common law for the most part. It was later codified and is now found in federal and state statutory law.

More from Merriam-Webster on criminal law

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