civil law

American  

noun

1. the body of laws of a state or nation regulating ordinary private matters, as distinct from laws regulating criminal, political, or military matters.

2. Roman History. the body of law proper to the city or state of Rome, as distinct from that common to all nations.

3. systems of law influenced significantly and in various ways by Roman law, especially as contained in the Corpus Juris Civilis, as distinct from the common law and canon or ecclesiastical law.

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civil law British  

noun

1. the law of a state relating to private and civilian affairs

2. the body of law in force in ancient Rome, esp the law applicable to private citizens

3. any system of law based on the Roman system as distinguished from the common law and canon law

4. the law of a state as distinguished from international law

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Other Word Forms

• civil-law adjective

Etymology

Origin of civil law

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425

Example Sentences

Justice Horace Gray didn’t say that “jurisdiction” means being subject to ordinary criminal or civil law, as opponents of the president’s order maintain.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

The former first minster has sued the government for misfeasance – a civil law term that means the wrongful exercise of lawful authority.

From BBC • Oct. 14, 2024

Grocery titan Albertsons will pay $3.9 million to resolve a civil law enforcement complaint alleging that it ripped off customers at hundreds of its Vons, Safeway and Albertsons stores in California, authorities said Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2024

But in practice, they are treated according to the civil law of the State of Israel, which formally applies only to territory within the state’s borders.

From New York Times • May 16, 2024

Some aspects of Islamic law are observed in Iran's legal system, but today the country mostly operates under civil law, ratified by the parliament.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi