lex
noun
law.
lex
1 American
[leks]
/ lɛks /
noun
-
leges
plural
lex.
2
American
abbreviation
-
lexical.
-
lexicon.
lex
British
/ lɛks /
noun
-
a system or body of laws
-
a particular specified law
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of lex
First recorded in 1490–1500, lex is from the Latin word lēx
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.
See Examples For:
He told AFP Babis most probably complied with the Czech conflict of interest law, dubbed "lex Babis".
From Barron's ● Mar. 12, 2026
But dura lex, sed lex — the law is hard, but it is the law — and the law in California forbade slavery.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 9, 2021
Salus populi suprema lex, he reminds us: public health must be the highest law.
From Nature ● Oct. 14, 2019
The classical root of “privilege,” privus lex, means “private law.”
From Washington Post ● Sep. 27, 2018
A foedus is a league, or compact, but it is often used as synonymous with lex, and Renaissance commentators on Lucretius interpreted him as talking about the laws of nature.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
There is an old Latin phrase, inter arma enim silent leges, which roughly translates as "in time of war, the Constitution is silent."
From Time ● Jun. 23, 2011
The project will include 17 major buildings housing a medical center, a 4 million-volume library and seven col leges where Saudis will study disciplines ranging from dentistry and engineering to agriculture and marketing.
From Time Magazine Archive
Besides, says Caltech's Dean of Admissions Winchester Jones, the system is "unfair to the candidate" because col leges would spurn second-choosers.
From Time Magazine Archive
Trained in their own staff col leges or U.S. military schools, the officers, especially the younger ones, feel that they can do a better job.
From Time Magazine Archive
The Third Section, or Secret Police, which is in its proceedings essentially extra leges, claims to act independently of any other department of the Empire.
From The Contemporary Review, Volume 36, September 1879 by Various
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