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Synonyms

law and order

American  

noun

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

law-and-order British  

noun

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

    a 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
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]

Etymology

Origin of law and order

First recorded in 1590–1600

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.

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

Nearly a million police and soldiers have been deployed to maintain law and order.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026

"The gradual deterioration of law and order has emerged as the biggest threat."

From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026

Nevertheless, she said, it has been interpreted by both parties as an emergency option to be used when law and order has completely broken down.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

Unfortunately, at the same time that civil rights were being identified as a threat to law and order, the FBI was reporting fairly dramatic increases in the national crime rate.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

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.