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common law
common lawnounthe system of law originating in England, as distinct from the civil or Roman law and the canon or ecclesiastical law.
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common-law
common-lawadjectiveof, relating to, or established by common law.
common law
1 Americannoun
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the system of law originating in England, as distinct from the civil or Roman law and the canon or ecclesiastical law.
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the unwritten law, especially of England, based on custom or court decision, as distinct from statute law.
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the law administered through the system of courts established for the purpose, as distinct from equity or admiralty.
adjective
noun
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the body of law based on judicial decisions and custom, as distinct from statute law
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the law of a state that is of general application, as distinct from regional customs
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common-law. (modifier) denoting a marriage deemed to exist after a couple have cohabited for several years
common-law marriage
common-law wife
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The importance of common law is particularly stressed in the legal system of Britain, on which the legal system of the United States is based.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of common law1
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50
Origin of common-law2
First recorded in 1905–10
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.
See Examples For:
It’s true that our common law and constitutional precedents have long protected parents’ relationship with their children—and in our view, with good reason.
From Slate ● Mar. 12, 2026
Misconduct in Public Office is part of England's "common law" - which means judges came up with it hundreds of years ago, rather than Parliament.
From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2026
In the modern era, the British heritage of common law, freedom of speech and personal virtue didn’t constrain innovation but produced it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026
Under common law, liability for “aiding and abetting” is reserved for parties that consciously induce or assist wrongdoing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 27, 2025
The English had the common law, which relied on the jury system.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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The majority’s decision in Barbara recounts how before the 14th Amendment’s ratification, Americans followed the long-standing common-law rule making persons born on American soil citizens by birth.
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026
Many people wrongly believe co-habiting couples have automatic legal and inheritance rights under "common-law marriage", says Alastair Sinclair, family lawyer at Setfords.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
She then was transferred to Pretrial Detention Centre Number 5 in Donetsk, where she shared a small, filthy cell with around 20 common-law prisoners.
From Barron's ● May 8, 2026
But, it added, it never gave up plans to use it and retains common-law rights.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 25, 2025
Most of these men were common-law prisoners, but I knew diere would be some political prisoners among them.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.