criminal law

noun

: the law of crimes and their punishments

Examples of criminal law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the tricky bit is doing so without eviscerating Congress’ regulatory powers across a lot of different dimensions, including criminal law, that the justices may also think important. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026 Shaul Brazil, a partner at BCL Solicitors in London who is vice chair of the International Bar Association's criminal law committee, notes that every case is unique. — Bill Chappell, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026 Nahhat's been an attorney for over 30 years, working as an adviser and trial and appellate lawyer in probate, criminal law, personal injury, real estate, and entertainment law. — Tristan McFolley, Freep.com, 27 Aug. 2026 Bianco and his allies insist the difference is evidence of maleficence, and that criminal law authorizes the sheriff to sidestep the state’s detailed election code and the attorney general’s sweeping authority to get to the bottom of it. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for criminal law

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of criminal law was in 1672

Rhymes for criminal law

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Browse Nearby Words

criminalize
criminal law
criminal lawyer
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Cite this Entry

“Criminal law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminal%20law. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Legal Definition

criminal law

noun
: public law that deals with crimes and their prosecution compare civil law

Note: Substantive criminal law defines crimes, and procedural criminal law sets down criminal procedure. Substantive criminal law was originally common law for the most part. It was later codified and is now found in federal and state statutory law.

More from Merriam-Webster on criminal law

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about criminal law

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