Examples of unwritten law in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There’s an unwritten law that literary fiction set in the high plains be sturdy and simple — sentences firm as fence posts, commas hammered in as clean as barn nails.
—
Mark Athitakis, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2024
Tradition intact, with an asterisk The tournament’s unwritten law of pairing the defending Masters champion with the winner of the previous year’s U.S. Amateur remains — with a twist.
—Bob Spear, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2024
As with the budget crisis, politicians cannot repeal the unwritten laws of economics.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 5 Jan. 2024
That’s an unwritten law.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Jan. 2023
But the facts of that night were swallowed up by a code of silence, the unwritten law that presumed police officers would shield one another from accountability.
—New York Times, 19 July 2022
Apparently, the unwritten law also applied to siblings who came along to assist.
—Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2022
Meanwhile, groups like the Ku Klux Klan intimidated and killed black people who challenged the now-unwritten laws of conduct.
—Erin Blakemore, National Geographic, 5 Feb. 2020
Stoddard notes, disdaining the vagueness of unwritten law based on power.
—Kyle Smith, National Review, 25 Nov. 2019
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.
Mark Athitakis, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2024
Tradition intact, with an asterisk The tournament’s unwritten law of pairing the defending Masters champion with the winner of the previous year’s U.S. Amateur remains — with a twist.
—Bob Spear, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2024
As with the budget crisis, politicians cannot repeal the unwritten laws of economics.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 5 Jan. 2024
That’s an unwritten law.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Jan. 2023
But the facts of that night were swallowed up by a code of silence, the unwritten law that presumed police officers would shield one another from accountability.
—New York Times, 19 July 2022
Apparently, the unwritten law also applied to siblings who came along to assist.
—Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2022
Meanwhile, groups like the Ku Klux Klan intimidated and killed black people who challenged the now-unwritten laws of conduct.
—Erin Blakemore, National Geographic, 5 Feb. 2020
Stoddard notes, disdaining the vagueness of unwritten law based on power.
—Kyle Smith, National Review, 25 Nov. 2019
Dictionary Entries Near unwritten law
Cite this Entry
“Unwritten law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwritten%20law. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share