lemon law

noun

: a law offering car buyers relief (as by repair, replacement, or refund) for defects detected during a specified period after purchase

Examples of lemon law in a Sentence

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Meanwhile, portions of the new lemon law take effect Jan. 1; others in April. — Calmatters, Orange County Register, 19 Dec. 2024 The new lemon law was a compromise between U.S. automakers, consumer attorneys and judges who came together to address a growing backlog of lemon law cases in the state’s courts. — Calmatters, Orange County Register, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lemon law was in 1981

Rhymes for lemon law

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Browse Nearby Words

lemonish
lemon law
lemonlike
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Cite this Entry

“Lemon law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lemon%20law. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

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Legal Definition

lemon law

noun
lem·​on law
: a statute that grants the purchaser of a car specific remedies (as a refund) if the car has a defect that impairs or significantly affects its use, value, or safety and that cannot be repaired within a specified period
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