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

But in his majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts dismissed such concerns as “fear mongering on the basis of extreme hypotheticals about a future where the President ‘feels empowered to violate federal criminal law.’”

From Salon

According to Essex University's Prof Lorna Woods, the lowest level of views that can be prosecuted in British criminal law are those deemed "grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character".

From BBC

But she was told that Bio Care had not broken any state criminal laws.

From BBC

She has no previous experience as a prosecutor in criminal law.

From BBC

"That is very different from both protest and...the normal criminal law as well."

From BBC