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

Yes, there were U.S. boots on the ground in this operation, but not nearly enough to enforce law and order.

From The Wall Street Journal

The native of South Bend, Indiana, also had roles in films Pieces of April, Enchanted and Cars 3 and Lightyear, as well as TV roles in the Law and Order franchise.

From BBC

Even before the protests, the interim government was under scrutiny as it struggled to maintain law and order and deliver results amid the political turmoil.

From BBC

When José Antonio Kast ran for president in 2021, he vowed to crack down on migration and restore law and order on Chile’s streets.

From The Wall Street Journal

The initiative is marketed primarily as a crime-control strategy—a dramatic show of force meant to signal the return of law and order—but also as a way to protect American workers from job competition.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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