civil law

noun

1. the body of laws of a state or nation regulating ordinary private matters, as distinct from laws regulating criminal, political, or military matters.
2. Roman History. the body of law proper to the city or state of Rome, as distinct from that common to all nations. Compare jus civile.
3. systems of law influenced significantly and in various ways by Roman law, especially as contained in the Corpus Juris Civilis, as distinct from the common law and canon or ecclesiastical law.

civil law

noun

1. the law of a state relating to private and civilian affairs
2. the body of law in force in ancient Rome, esp the law applicable to private citizens
3. any system of law based on the Roman system as distinguished from the common law and canon law
4. the law of a state as distinguished from international law

Other Words From

• civil-law adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of civil law¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425

Example Sentences

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.

From No Straight News

We are confident that a review of all documents and statements will show that Cisterra and its employees acted appropriately and complied with all criminal and civil laws.

From Voice of San Diego

The groups ask for James to adopt a civil law standard for determining Cuomo’s potential wrongdoing, as opposed to the criminal standard of “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

From Washington Post

Dycus said the Insurrection Act can be used only if civil law enforcement can’t handle the problem.

From Fortune

Under the Posse Comitatus Act, active-duty troops cannot be used for civil law enforcement.

From Fortune

Whereas settlers are subjected to Israeli civil law, Palestinians are subjected to martial law.

From The Daily Beast

Crimes “perpetrated with a minor by a cleric” fall under church jurisdiction, not civil law enforcement.

From The Daily Beast

The kind of verbal threats the civil law considers wrongful are those that unconditionally threaten immediate bodily harm.

From The Daily Beast

How were the weak to be protected, and the strong to be restrained, at points beyond the ordinary pale of the civil law?

From Project Gutenberg

Civil law, which is God's ordinance, prohibits tampering with any testament of man.

From Project Gutenberg

It restored the old French civil law but continued the milder English criminal law already in operation.

From Project Gutenberg

After his preliminary studies he went to Oxford, where he became a licentiate of civil law, and took Holy Orders.

From Project Gutenberg

We say according to the course of the civil law, and we say according to the course of the common law.

From Project Gutenberg