law
gb/lˈɔ/ us/lˈɔ/
A2
English
~ 400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Rules set by a government
The rules made by a government to control what people can and cannot do.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is against the law
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'law' (the system of rules) with 'rule' (a specific instruction, often less formal).
Synonyms
legislation (Refers specifically to laws that have been formally enacted by a legislative body.)
Antonyms
anarchy (The absence of laws or governmental authority.)
Collocations
break the law
|against the law
|obey the law
|enforce the law
|pass a law
Themes
government
|society
|justice
|law
|politics
Examples
- Stealing is against the law in every country.
- The new law requires all drivers to wear seat belts.
- 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.
- The law says you must pay taxes.
- The police make sure people follow the law.
- A new law was made last year.
Noun
B1
entity
2
An individual legal rule
One rule in the system of laws.
Usage pattern:
pass [a law]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'law' instead of 'rule' for non-legal contexts, such as sports or games.
Synonyms
statute (A formal written law passed by a legislative body.)
Collocations
pass a law
|change a law
|repeal a law
|law against [something]
Themes
government
|justice
|law
Examples
- A new law was passed to ban smoking in restaurants.
- This law protects workers from unfair dismissal.
- There is no law against walking barefoot in public.
Learner examples
- The city has a new law about parking.
- This law says children must go to school.
- We want to change this old law.
Noun
B2
entity
3
The study or profession of law
The study or job of working with laws and courts.
Usage pattern:
study [law] / practice [law]
Synonyms
jurisprudence (A more formal or academic term for the theory or philosophy of law.)
Collocations
study law
|practice law
|law school
Themes
education
|profession
|law
|work
Examples
- She studied law at Harvard University.
- After graduating, he began practicing law in New York.
- Law is a competitive field that requires years of study.
Learner examples
- She wants to study law at university.
- He works in law as a lawyer.
- Law is not easy to learn.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
4
Scientific principle describing nature
A scientific rule that always happens in nature when certain things occur.
Synonyms
principle (A general truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for reasoning or action.)
Collocations
law of physics
|Newton's laws
Themes
science
|education
Examples
- Newton's first law explains how objects move when no force acts on them.
- The law of gravity affects everything on Earth.
- Scientific laws are based on evidence and observation.
Learner examples
- The law of gravity pulls things down.
- Newton's laws explain movement.
- This is a scientific law about heat.
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.