jurisprudence

[joor-is-prood-ns, joor-is-prood-]

noun

1. the science or philosophy of law.

2. a body or system of laws.

3. a department of law.

   medical jurisprudence.

4. Civil Law.,  decisions of courts, especially of reviewing tribunals.

jurisprudence

/ ˌdʒʊərɪspruːˈdɛnʃəl, ˌdʒʊərɪsˈpruːdəns /

noun

1. the science or philosophy of law

2. a system or body of law

3. a branch of law

   medical jurisprudence

jurisprudence

1. The philosophy of law. Jurisprudence implies creating a body of law and methods for interpreting the law, studying the relationships between law and society, and predicting the effects of legal decisions. In the United States, lawmakers, attorneys, scholars, and courts all take an active role in guiding jurisprudence.

Other Word Forms

• jurisprudential adjective
• jurisprudentially adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of jurisprudence¹

First recorded in 1620–30; from Late Latin jūrisprūdentia, jūris prūdentia “knowledge of the law” and used in the emperor Justinian’s law codes, published between a.d. 529 and 534. See jus, prudence

Word History and Origins

Origin of jurisprudence¹

C17: from Latin jūris prūdentia; see _{jus, prudence}

Example Sentences

His memoir, “Life, Law & Liberty,” sheds light on his own experiences on and off the court but leaves its central figure’s jurisprudence still mainly a mystery.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“I did not know that senior economic officials’ at the Treasury and the Federal Reserve expertise went all the way to constitutional jurisprudence,” he says.

Read more on Barron's

As the American Bar Association explains, in recent years, “capital jurisprudence has evolved to make it even more difficult for prisoners under execution warrant to receive in-depth review of their legal claims…”

Read more on Salon

“Under current jurisprudence, I don’t think it’s entirely impossible.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The document said Islam was the religion of the president, as the previous constitution did, and Islamic jurisprudence was "the main source of legislation", rather than "a main source".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• act 
• case 
• charge 
• charter 
• code 
• constitution 
• decision 
• decree 
• legislation 
• mandate 
• measure 
• order 
• precedent 
• regulation 
• requirement 
• ruling 
• statute