law

The word “law” means the system of rules that a country or community uses to govern behavior and enforce order. In plain terms, the rules a society lives by, whether made by governments or observed in nature.

“Law” is pronounced law (/lɔ/ in IPA).

Here is “law” used in a sentence: “Breaking the speed limit is against the law.”

Words with a similar meaning to “law” include act, canon, code, convention, constitution and corpus.

“Law” is a noun.

The word “law” comes from Old English. From Old English lagu, borrowed from Old Norse lög, literally "things laid down" — related to the verb lay.

“Law” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Law” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the system of rules that a country or community uses to govern behavior and enforce order.

A law is an official rule made and enforced by a government or authority, and breaking it brings legal penalties. A rule is broader and often more informal — it can be set by a school, club, game, or household, with milder consequences. All laws are rules, but not all rules carry the force of law.

Law is often split into criminal law, which deals with offences against society, and civil law, which settles disputes between people or organisations. Other broad areas include constitutional, contract, family, employment, and international law. Systems are also grouped into 'common law,' built on past court decisions, and 'statute law,' written by lawmakers.

Law is the actual system of written rules a society enforces. Justice is the ideal of fairness those rules aim to achieve. The two usually align, but not always — a law can be criticised as unjust, and people may appeal to justice when they feel the law has failed. Law is the tool; justice is the goal.

Law sets shared standards of behaviour so that people know what is expected and what is forbidden. It protects rights, settles disputes peacefully, holds wrongdoers to account, and limits the power of those in authority. Without it, communities would rely on force rather than agreed rules, making order and safety far harder to keep.