law

/lɔ/ n [C/U] (RULE)

Definition

› a rule made by a government that states how people may and may not behave in society and in business, and that often orders particular punishments if they do not obey, or a system of such rules: [U] civil/criminal law [U] federal/state law [C] We have a law in this state that drivers must wear seatbelts. [U] She’s studying law at Georgetown University. [U] Playing loud music late at night is against the law. › The law is also the police: [U] He got in trouble with the law as a young man. Law and order › Law and order is the condition of a society in which laws are obeyed, and social life and business go on in an organized way. Law enforcement › Law enforcement is the government activity of keeping the public peace and causing laws to be obeyed: Several law enforcement officers were sent to Mexico to bring the prisoner back.

(Definition of law n (RULE) from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)