law and order

noun

1. strict control of crime and repression of violence, sometimes involving the possible restriction of civil rights.

law-and-order

noun

1. (modifier) favouring or advocating strong measures to suppress crime and violence

   a law-and-order candidate

Word History and Origins

Origin of law and order¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Idioms and Phrases

Strict enforcement of laws, especially for controlling crime. For example, Our candidate is always talking about law and order. The concept behind this term was stated by Aristotle. Today, however, it also carries the implication of infringing on civil rights in the course of too arduous law enforcement. [Late 1500s]

Example Sentences

Turning to law and order, Philp set out plans to hire 10,000 extra police officers at a cost of £800m a year, which he said would be funded by some of the savings proposed by Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride in his conference speech.

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As the White House posted on social media on Sept. 22: “Without borders, law and order, and religion, you don’t have a country.”

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But for Spain’s far right, it was all the pretext they needed: The Spanish Republic had lost control of law and order, and Franco and his allies launched a coup against the government, setting off the Spanish Civil War.

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Lammy said he was determined to "restore tough law and order" and "ensure prisons are fit for purpose" during a visit to Belmarsh prison in south-east London.

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He added that if individuals crossed the criminal threshold, "they should face the law," as security forces "stood for law and order".

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