case law

American  

noun

1. law established by judicial decisions in particular cases, instead of by legislative action.

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case law British  

noun

1. law established by following judicial decisions given in earlier cases Compare statute law See also precedent

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Etymology

Origin of case law

First recorded in 1860–65

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

case law

That’s not supported in the case law, is it?

From Slate ● Sep. 30, 2026

“We have some case law which says they can void a real-estate transaction if it’s done for the purpose of avoiding recovery. But this was an expansion beyond that,” Rowan said.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

In Tunick's case, "law enforcement seemingly took advantage of the relaxed constitutional protections at the border to try to dig up evidence" against him, his lawyers said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026

While state laws govern how marriages are unwound, resolutions for unmarried couples often hinge on a court’s interpretation of case law, with varying outcomes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 20, 2026

And at this point no case law has fully clarified whether you own or have the right to control your tissues.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

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