criminal law

noun

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

criminal law

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of criminal law¹

First recorded in 1580–90

Example Sentences

“There are many reasons why an indictment would reference unindicted co-conspirators, but their status as FBI agents is not one of them,” said Jens David Ohlin, a criminal law professor at Cornell Law School.

From Washington Post

We’ve seen exactly this happen with all sorts of extraterritorial criminal law.

From Washington Post

So it was absolutely inevitable to bring criminal law enforcement into sport.

From Washington Post

The first two issues, there are criminal laws and criminal things.

From Washington Post

If criminal law generally has made too much of violence in recent decades, the rules governing the police have made too little.

From Time

Jason Willamson, staff attorney for the Criminal Law Reform Project, is strongly against it.

From The Daily Beast

He was a securities and appellate lawyer with no experience in criminal law.

From The Daily Beast

European history also suggests the impotence of criminal law in these matters.

From The Daily Beast

During the period, African Americans had legal equality under criminal law.

From The Daily Beast

You want to advocate for including a precept of Jewish law in civil or criminal law?

From The Daily Beast

The distinction also between civil and criminal law requires explanation.

From Project Gutenberg

He scarcely, indeed, had an opportunity of making any alteration in the criminal law.

From Project Gutenberg

At this point, we may see how faulty, and yet how constantly improving, has been the administration of the criminal law.

From Project Gutenberg

Otherwise, in spite of Burke's efforts, the criminal law was not materially ameliorated till the next century.

From Project Gutenberg

Romilly's attempts to improve the criminal law began in 1808.

From Project Gutenberg