jurisprudence

American  

[joor-is-prood-ns, joor-is-prood-] / ˌdʒʊər ɪsˈprud ns, ˈdʒʊər ɪsˌprud- /

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.

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jurisprudence British  

/ ˌdʒʊərɪspruːˈdɛnʃəl, ˌdʒʊərɪsˈpruːdəns /

noun

1. the science or philosophy of law

2. a system or body of law

3. a branch of law

   medical jurisprudence

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jurisprudence Cultural  

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.

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Other Word Forms

• jurisprudential adjective
• jurisprudentially adverb

Etymology

Origin of jurisprudence

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

Example Sentences

Enter Robert P. George, a professor of jurisprudence at Princeton and one of the country’s most respected conservative scholars.

From The Wall Street Journal

Six of the court’s seven justices were Republicans, but most were more moderate than Newby, and he had little influence on their jurisprudence.

From Salon

Though he agreed with Black’s definition of rebellion, Segall rejected the idea it could shape jurisprudence: “That’s not how our legal system works,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Legal scholars, however, say the recent criticism of provisional sentences ignores more than a decade of legislation and jurisprudence aimed at toughening up a legal system that can take years to reach a final verdict.

From The Wall Street Journal

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.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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