natural law

American  

noun

1. a principle or body of laws considered as derived from nature, right reason, or religion and as ethically binding in human society.

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natural law British  

noun

1. an ethical belief or system of beliefs supposed to be inherent in human nature and discoverable by reason rather than revelation

2. a nonlogically necessary truth; law of nature See also nomological

3. the philosophical doctrine that the authority of the legal system or of certain laws derives from their justifiability by reason, and indeed that a legal system which cannot be so justified has no authority

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natural law Cultural  

1. The doctrine that human affairs should be governed by ethical principles that are part of the very nature of things and that can be understood by reason. The first two paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence contain a clear statement of the doctrine.

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Etymology

Origin of natural law

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Compare meaning

How does natural-law compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• natural law vs. positive law

Example Sentences

A pair of scientists make the case for a natural law that accounts for emergent order.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

This is well-trod philosophical ground — referencing “negative” and “positive” rights, natural law and all the usual back and forth about originalism and whether the Constitution is living or static.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026

This is a suppression of the natural law.

From BBC • Sep. 24, 2024

Still, if any natural law applies to California, it is that what comes down will eventually go up.

From New York Times • Apr. 30, 2024

The byte or bit is a man-made invention, but the theory of digitized information that underlies it is a beautiful natural law.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

• goodness
• righteousness