law-abiding
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of law-abiding
First recorded in 1830–40
Vocabulary lists containing law-abiding
Vocabulary from the Eleventh Republican Debate March 3, 2016
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Selection Vocabulary 1, Unit 4
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Flock cameras have solved many crimes in Houston, Texas and made it a safer place for law-abiding citizens.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
On a practical level, he added, the data sharing increased the risk of breaches that can open law-abiding citizens up to identity theft.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
The American Dream and Promise Act offers pathways to permanent status for Dreamers, those who were eligible for temporary protected status, and certain other highly vetted law-abiding noncitizens who now risk arrest, detention, and deportation.
From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026
"Such conduct undermines the dignity and rights of law-abiding citizens," the ministry said in a statement released on Thursday.
From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2026
It just didn’t seem in character, somehow, for correct, law-abiding Mr. Crouch to be sneaking around somebody else’s office this late at night....
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.