criminal law
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
"He was sentenced... under juvenile criminal law," he told RBB TV.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
The idea of holding individuals responsible for such violations was forged in that process and became the basis of international criminal law.
From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026
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
Figuring out Alabama civil and criminal law while managing death penalty cases in several other states kept me very busy.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
![]()
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.