law
gb/lˈɔ/ us/lˈɔ/
A2
English
~ 400
jog, jogrendszer, törvény, jogszabály, rendelet, jogi szakma, elv, természettörvény
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is against the law
Stealing is against the law in every country.
A lopás minden országban törvénybe ütközik.
The new law requires all drivers to wear seat belts.
Az új törvény előírja, hogy minden járművezetőnek be kell kötnie a biztonsági övet.
Police officers are responsible for enforcing the law.
The government passed a law to protect endangered species.
Learner examples
It is against the law to steal.
Lopni törvénybe ütközik.
The law says you must pay taxes.
A törvény szerint adót kell fizetni.
The police make sure people follow the law.
A new law was made last year.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'law' (the system of rules) with 'rule' (a specific instruction, often less formal).
Meaning
Rules set by a government
Collocations
break the law
|against the law
|obey the law
|enforce the law
|pass a law
Synonyms
legislation (Refers specifically to laws that have been formally enacted by a legislative body.)
Antonyms
anarchy (The absence of laws or governmental authority.)
Themes
government
|society
|justice
|law
|politics
Definition
The rules made by a government to control what people can and cannot do.
A system of rules established and enforced by a government or other authority to regulate behavior within a society.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
pass [a law]
A new law was passed to ban smoking in restaurants.
Új törvényt fogadtak el, amely betiltja a dohányzást az éttermekben.
This law protects workers from unfair dismissal.
Ez a törvény védi a munkavállalókat a jogtalan elbocsátástól.
There is no law against walking barefoot in public.
Learner examples
The city has a new law about parking.
A városban új parkolási rendelet van érvényben.
This law says children must go to school.
Ez a törvény kimondja, hogy a gyerekeknek iskolába kell járniuk.
We want to change this old law.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'law' instead of 'rule' for non-legal contexts, such as sports or games.
Meaning
An individual legal rule
Collocations
pass a law
|change a law
|repeal a law
|law against [something]
Synonyms
statute (A formal written law passed by a legislative body.)
Themes
government
|justice
|law
Definition
One rule in the system of laws.
A specific rule that is part of a larger legal system, established by an authority and enforceable by penalties.
NOUN
B2
3
jog
B1
jogi szakma
B2
Usage pattern:
study [law] / practice [law]
She studied law at Harvard University.
A Harvard Egyetemen jogot tanult.
After graduating, he began practicing law in New York.
A diploma megszerzése után New Yorkban kezdett ügyvédként dolgozni.
Law is a competitive field that requires years of study.
Learner examples
She wants to study law at university.
Egyetemen szeretne jogot tanulni.
He works in law as a lawyer.
A jogi szakmában dolgozik ügyvédként.
Law is not easy to learn.
Meaning
The study or profession of law
Collocations
study law
|practice law
|law school
Synonyms
jurisprudence (A more formal or academic term for the theory or philosophy of law.)
Themes
education
|profession
|law
|work
Definition
The study or job of working with laws and courts.
The academic discipline and professional practice concerned with legal systems, legal principles, and their application.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
4
Newton's first law explains how objects move when no force acts on them.
Newton első törvénye azt magyarázza, hogyan mozognak a testek, ha semmilyen erő nem hat rájuk.
The law of gravity affects everything on Earth.
A gravitáció törvénye a Földön mindenre hatással van.
Scientific laws are based on evidence and observation.
Learner examples
The law of gravity pulls things down.
A gravitáció törvénye szerint a dolgok lefelé esnek.
Newton's laws explain movement.
Newton törvényei a mozgást magyarázzák.
This is a scientific law about heat.
Meaning
Scientific principle describing nature
Collocations
law of physics
|Newton's laws
Synonyms
principle (A general truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for reasoning or action.)
Themes
science
|education
Definition
A scientific rule that always happens in nature when certain things occur.
A statement based on repeated experimental observations that describes some aspect of the natural world and predicts its behavior under certain conditions.
Grammar
Dictionary form
law
IPA
GB/lˈɔ/
US/lˈɔ/
Syllables & stress
law (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (law)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: law
- Plural: law, laws
Word family
Forms
laws
noun
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
legalization
noun
lawlessness
noun
Expressions
against the law
1/əɡˈɛnst ðə lˈɔ/
fixed phrase
Illegal according to the law
Not allowed by the rules made by the government.
Examples
- It is against the law to drive without insurance.
- Selling alcohol to minors is against the law.
by law
2/bˈaɪ lˈɔ/
fixed phrase
As required by legal rules
Because the rules made by the government say so.
Examples
- By law, all food products must have labels showing ingredients.
- Employers are required by law to provide safe working conditions.
law and order
3/lˈɔ ˈænd ˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
Peace maintained by obeying laws
When people follow the rules and there is peace in society.
Examples
- The police are working hard to maintain law and order in the city.
- Without law and order, society would fall into chaos.
lay down the law
1/lˈeɪ dˈaʊn ðə lˈɔ/
idiom
informal
State rules firmly
To tell people what they must do in a strict way.
Examples
- The teacher laid down the law on cheating from day one.
- The teacher laid down the law about homework deadlines.
- At home, my parents laid down the law about curfews.
- He laid down the law to his children about bedtime.