civil law

noun

often capitalized C&L

1

: Roman law especially as set forth in the Justinian code

2

: the body of private law developed from Roman law and used in Louisiana and in many countries outside the English-speaking world

3

: the law established by a nation or state for its own jurisdiction

4

: the law of civil or private rights

Examples of civil law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Justice Department’s civil law jurisdiction is essentially limited to components of government, particularly at the state level, that practice invidious forms of discrimination. —The Editors, National Review, 13 Dec. 2024

In October, Albertsons agreed to pay nearly $4 million to settle a civil law enforcement complaint that alleged the company overcharged customers for groceries and lied about the weight of some products. —Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024

The Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the military from engaging in regular civil law enforcement without congressional approval. —Janae Bowens, Baltimore Sun, 27 Nov. 2024

After two years of civil law practice in Lawton, Okla., he was elected in 1956 as the youngest member of the Oklahoma Senate. —Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

civil law

noun

often capitalized C&L

1

: Roman law especially as set forth in the Code of Justinian

2

: the body of law developed from Roman law and used in Louisiana, in continental Europe, and in many other countries outside of the English-speaking world including especially those that were colonized by countries of continental Europe compare common law

Note: Although Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. whose law is based entirely on civil law, remnants of civil law remain in other states (as Texas and California) in which countries of continental Europe had a strong influence.

3

: the law established by a nation or state for its own jurisdiction

4

: the law that applies to private rights especially as opposed to the law that applies to criminal matters compare criminal law