private law

noun

1. a branch of law dealing with the legal relationships of private individuals. Compare public law ( def 2 ).
2. a statute affecting only one person or a small number of persons directly.

private law

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of private law¹

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

He went into private law practice and served on the boards of the nonprofit National Committee Against Discrimination in Housing as well as Fannie Mae, a government-backed entity that buys home loans and packages them into securities.

From Washington Post

DHHL plans to hire a private law firm to represent the interests of the trust since it both reports to the state and is negotiating with the state.

From ProPublica

A characteristic consequence is that Hale and Blackstone make no distinction between public and private law.

From Project Gutenberg

Erectness is delivery to the private law, and something in each remains erect, and lifts him above the brute and the crowd.

From Project Gutenberg

Then within the province of private law the ideas are few; these few have hard work to do; their outlines are blurred.

From Project Gutenberg

In particular no clear line is drawn between public and private law.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he uses terms and phrases which belong to the realm of pure private law.

From Project Gutenberg