private law

American

noun

a branch of law dealing with the legal relationships of private individuals.
a statute affecting only one person or a small number of persons directly.

private law British

noun

the branch of law that deals with the rights and duties of private individuals and the relations between them Compare public law

"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

Etymology

Origin of private law

First recorded in 1765–75

Compare meaning

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

public law vs. private law

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.

The Department of Justice is not a private law firm.

From Slate • Apr. 28, 2026

He returned to private law practice afterward, Davis said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

At the same, he’s started increasingly outsourcing major cases to private law firms.

From Salon • Sep. 25, 2025

He worked for private law firms between 1973 and 1996.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 30, 2025

Retiring from politics, he entered private law practice, which he pursued until his death in 1936.

From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023