Roman law

American  

noun

1. the system of jurisprudence elaborated by the ancient Romans, a strong and varied influence on the legal systems of many countries.

---

Roman law British  

noun

1. the system of jurisprudence of ancient Rome, codified under Justinian and forming the basis of many modern legal systems

2. another term for civil law

---

Etymology

Origin of Roman law

First recorded in 1650–60

Example Sentences

Conservative and liberal judges alike questioned the arguments of Solicitor Gen. John Sauer, who represented the administration, saying he relied on “some pretty obscure sources,” including precedents that dated back to Roman law.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

Roman law considered the unborn a “potential person.”

From Washington Post • Jun. 10, 2022

Under Roman law slaves were considered property and had no legal personhood.

From Reuters • Nov. 6, 2021

Roman law required that a baby be rescued from a dead mother’s womb.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2019

The French, by contrast, had a Roman law system.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton