international law

American  

noun

1. the body of rules that nations generally recognize as binding in their conduct toward one another.

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international law British  

noun

1. the body of rules generally recognized by civilized nations as governing their conduct towards each other and towards each other's subjects

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international law Cultural  

1. A body of rules and principles that govern the relations among nations. (See Geneva Conventions and International Court of Justice.)

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Etymology

Origin of international law

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Six Flags said Christopher Bennett, a partner at the international law firm Dentons, will join as chief legal and compliance officer on June 3.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

The two sides also agreed to deepen security cooperation and "reaffirmed the importance of resolving disputes in the South China Sea through peaceful means based on international law," according to the Vietnamese prime minister.

From Barron's • May 2, 2026

He has worked for an international law firm and, according to his campaign website, served as chief legal officer and general counsel for California Schools VEBA, a public employee benefits organization.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Successive British governments have long maintained that the island's population has a right to self-determination under international law established by the United Nations Charter.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

In the modern world, it is often considered a violation of international law.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz