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criminal law

American

noun

the laws of a state or country dealing with criminal offenses and their punishments.

criminal law British

noun

the body of law dealing with the constitution of offences and the punishment of offenders

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of criminal law

First recorded in 1580–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In criminal law, "the burden of proof is higher," noted Brandon Garrett, a law professor at Duke University -- with prosecutors required to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

In 2024, the Utah Supreme Court blocked enforcement of the criminal law.

From Slate • May 4, 2026

"I do have a particular interest in criminal law, purely based on the experiences that I've had in my life," says Hughes.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

The American Civil Liberties Union defended Hemani and said the government’s view threatens to broadly extend the reach of the criminal law.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026

Atticus Finch rarely took a criminal case; he had no taste for criminal law.

From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023