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• law and order
  law and order

  noun

  strict control of crime and repression of violence, sometimes involving the possible restriction of civil rights.
• law-and-order
  law-and-order

  noun

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

law and order

American  

noun

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

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law-and-order British  

noun

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

   a law-and-order candidate

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law and order Idioms  

1. 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]

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Etymology

Origin of law and order

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

Here are the legal personalities keeping law and order in the Oakland, Calif., courthouse:

From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026

Yusuf said the party was focused on "secure borders", the cost of living and the "return of law and order".

From BBC • May 9, 2026

The detailed first-hand testimony from all four men also verifies reports of a breakdown of law and order on the Russian front line.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

On Wednesday, appearing at the White House for a Black History Month reception, the president told us we need law and order.

From Salon • Feb. 20, 2026

I had to come in order for there to be law and order here, and work.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

Related Words

• calm
• calmness
• coolness
• equanimity
• serenity
• stillness