criminal law

noun

: the law of crimes and their punishments

Examples of criminal law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Married to my rapist: The Indian women saying no In July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government overhauled the country’s 164-year-old penal code with new criminal laws, but the exemption for marital rape stayed on the books. —Helen Regan, CNN, 11 Oct. 2024

That means not watering down criminal laws like some have proposed. —Jonathan Horwitz, Orange County Register, 4 Oct. 2024

Meanwhile, Sunday casts himself as a moderate Republican, an expert in criminal law, and someone tough on crime but also compassionate for those struggling with addiction and mental health. —Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 2 Oct. 2024

Seventeen states have laws with broad fetal personhood language that could apply to all criminal laws, according to an analysis by Pregnancy Justice. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 2 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

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.