law and order

See more synonyms for law and order on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

Origin of law and order

First recorded in 1590–1600

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for law-and-order

Contemporary Examples

The government is split between libertarians and the law-and-order Conservatives.
Inspectors Uncover UK Schools Pushing Radical Islamic Agendas
Nico Hines
June 10, 2014
Indeed, law-and-order authorities found themselves with little to do.
What Haiti Can Teach Us About the Storm
Jonathan M. Katz
October 30, 2012
In recent weeks Libyan officials, when faced by law-and-order challenges, have reflexively blamed former Gaddafi officials.
After Death of Christopher Stevens, Libyan President Offers Condolences
Jamie Dettmer
September 12, 2012
Blanchard attributes the incarceration rate to a law-and-order mentality that criminalizing something prevents it from happening.
'Mothers of Bedford': New Documentary on Mothers in Prison
Nina Strochlic
November 13, 2011
Is he a crunchy Cambridge social servant or a law-and-order Beantown cop?
The Beer Summit
Mark Katz
July 28, 2009

Historical Examples

The law-and-order party was preparing to make a clean-up of the desperadoes.
When the West Was Young
Frederick R. Bechdolt
Evidently he had been briefed on the law-and-order situation in Port Sandor.
Four-Day Planet
Henry Beam Piper
He was a good-looking kid; only he was like all them tenderfoots—he didn't know a law-and-order town when he saw it.
Sixes and Sevens
O. Henry
I set apart with my eye the one I opinionated to be the boss muck-raker of this law-and-order cavalry.
Options
O. Henry
I don't blame Weary; he's looking out for the law-and-order business—and that's all right.
Flying U Ranch
B. M. Bower

British Dictionary definitions for law-and-order

law-and-order

noun

(modifier) favouring or advocating strong measures to suppress crime and violencea law-and-order candidate

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with law-and-order

law and order

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]

law and order

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}law and order

Examples from the Web for law-and-order

Contemporary Examples

The government is split between libertarians and the law-and-order Conservatives.

Indeed, law-and-order authorities found themselves with little to do.

In recent weeks Libyan officials, when faced by law-and-order challenges, have reflexively blamed former Gaddafi officials.

Blanchard attributes the incarceration rate to a law-and-order mentality that criminalizing something prevents it from happening.

Is he a crunchy Cambridge social servant or a law-and-order Beantown cop?

Historical Examples

The law-and-order party was preparing to make a clean-up of the desperadoes.

Evidently he had been briefed on the law-and-order situation in Port Sandor.

He was a good-looking kid; only he was like all them tenderfoots—he didn't know a law-and-order town when he saw it.

I set apart with my eye the one I opinionated to be the boss muck-raker of this law-and-order cavalry.

I don't blame Weary; he's looking out for the law-and-order business—and that's all right.

law-and-order

Idioms and Phrases with law-and-order

law and order

Origin of law and order