positive law
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of positive law
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400
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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.
"Natural" means without the enforcement of positive law, man-made law.
From New York Times • Jan. 12, 2015
“Freedom Riders” implicitly and ably conveys the powerlessness of positive law in the face of a toxic cultural emotionalism.
From New York Times • May 15, 2011
If valid, they place all persons within their reach under the obligation of positive law, binding equally those who assent and those who do not assent.
From Time Magazine Archive
U. S. Nevertheless, so much stronger is custom than positive law, that not only every magistrate, but every lawyer in the country fancies himself peculiarly an "esquire!"
From The Chainbearer Or, The Littlepage Manuscripts by Cooper, James Fenimore
Its theoretical basis is the principle of egoism; while, for practically determining the particulars of duty it makes morality entirely dependent on positive law and institution.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 7 "Equation" to "Ethics" by Various
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.
