natural law

noun

1. a principle or body of laws considered as derived from nature, right reason, or religion and as ethically binding in human society.

natural law

noun

1. an ethical belief or system of beliefs supposed to be inherent in human nature and discoverable by reason rather than revelation
2. a nonlogically necessary truth; law of nature See also nomological
3. the philosophical doctrine that the authority of the legal system or of certain laws derives from their justifiability by reason, and indeed that a legal system which cannot be so justified has no authority

natural law

1. The doctrine that human affairs should be governed by ethical principles that are part of the very nature of things and that can be understood by reason. The first two paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence contain a clear statement of the doctrine.

Word History and Origins

Origin of natural law¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

This is a suppression of the natural law.

From BBC

Still, if any natural law applies to California, it is that what comes down will eventually go up.

From New York Times

"An important component of this proposed natural law is the idea of 'selection for function,'" says Carnegie astrobiologist Dr. Michael L. Wong, first author of the study.

From Science Daily

The natural law of growth in competition suggests this optimism is misguided: Mass shootings follow their own S-shaped natural-growth curve different from the one for all gun deaths shown earlier.

From Scientific American

But the ways Nelson was violated “goes beyond the white man’s laws and natural law,” Tillequots said.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• goodness
• righteousness