law-abiding

[ law-uh-bahy-ding ]

adjective

1. obeying or keeping the law; obedient to law:

   law-abiding citizens.

law-abiding

adjective

1. adhering more or less strictly to the laws

   a law-abiding citizen

Derived Forms

• ˈlaw-aˌbidingness, noun

Other Words From

• law-a·biding·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of law-abiding¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

The cops had come up short, unable to find the two men in a sea of several hundred thousand law-abiding people.

From The Daily Beast

Most Muslims, like most people everywhere, are peaceable and law-abiding.

From The Daily Beast

The majority of these people are hardworking, law-abiding citizens who believe in strong family values.

From The Daily Beast

She makes bold statements that IQ, law-abiding or -breaking tendencies and political alignment are all genetically determined.

From The Daily Beast

I completely support the right of law-abiding citizens to own and use guns for sport and self-protection.

From The Daily Beast

Now this setting up of an orderly law-abiding self seems to me to imply that there are impulses which make for order.

From Project Gutenberg

To be law-abiding means to acquiesce, if not directly participate, in that conspiracy.

From Project Gutenberg

They're bipeds—lizardoid rather than humanoid—and are a fairly intelligent and law-abiding lot.

From Project Gutenberg

They seemed to him, both for their possessions and their law-abiding disposition, to be worthy of baronies at least.

From Project Gutenberg

If the 'big ones' were as law-abiding as the 'little ones' there would be little need for criminal courts and jails.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• authentic
• conscientious
• decent
• equitable
• fair
• forthright
• genuine
• honorable
• impartial
• proper
• reliable
• sincere
• straightforward
• true
• trustworthy
• virtuous