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
But in practice, they are treated according to the civil law of the State of Israel, which formally applies only to territory within the state’s borders.
—
Mark Mazzetti Jonathan Davis Anna Diamond David Mason, New York Times, 16 May 2024
Despite his decades of experience in civil law, the longtime medical malpractice lawyer agreed to apply for standby counsel who would assist him, but not represent him, if his long-pending criminal case goes to trial.
—Madeleine O'Neill, Baltimore Sun, 3 May 2024
Adultery won’t be treated as a crime, but the court will consider it as a violation of certain civil laws.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2024
Supporters said the measure would bring civil law in line with existing state criminal law that allows for additional penalties against people charged with harming a pregnant woman.
—Lori Rozsa, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2024
First, it should be duly understood that the country operates under a civil law system influenced by Sharia principles.
—Radu Magdin, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Moffatt’s back-and-forth with Air Canada continued and eventually ended up in the Civil Resolution Tribunal, also known as the CRT, a quasi-judicial tribunal in the British Columbia public justice system that deals with civil law disputes like small claims.
—Jody Serrano / Gizmodo, Quartz, 16 Feb. 2024
Criminal law, unlike civil law, is less likely to hold defendants liable for the actions of a third party, even if that third party is the defendant’s child.
—Thaddeus Hoffmeister, The Conversation, 6 Feb. 2024
The drafters viewed the provision as an additional, civil law consequence of engaging in insurrection, separate from other legal punishments.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Feb. 2024
Mark Mazzetti Jonathan Davis Anna Diamond David Mason, New York Times, 16 May 2024
Despite his decades of experience in civil law, the longtime medical malpractice lawyer agreed to apply for standby counsel who would assist him, but not represent him, if his long-pending criminal case goes to trial.
—Madeleine O'Neill, Baltimore Sun, 3 May 2024
Adultery won’t be treated as a crime, but the court will consider it as a violation of certain civil laws.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2024
Supporters said the measure would bring civil law in line with existing state criminal law that allows for additional penalties against people charged with harming a pregnant woman.
—Lori Rozsa, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2024
First, it should be duly understood that the country operates under a civil law system influenced by Sharia principles.
—Radu Magdin, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Moffatt’s back-and-forth with Air Canada continued and eventually ended up in the Civil Resolution Tribunal, also known as the CRT, a quasi-judicial tribunal in the British Columbia public justice system that deals with civil law disputes like small claims.
—Jody Serrano / Gizmodo, Quartz, 16 Feb. 2024
Criminal law, unlike civil law, is less likely to hold defendants liable for the actions of a third party, even if that third party is the defendant’s child.
—Thaddeus Hoffmeister, The Conversation, 6 Feb. 2024
The drafters viewed the provision as an additional, civil law consequence of engaging in insurrection, separate from other legal punishments.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'civil law.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 1 Jun. 2024.
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