criminal law

noun

: the law of crimes and their punishments

Examples of criminal law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These terms originate in criminal law and refer to a government agency filing a document in court against the criminally responsible individual. —Matthew Roberts, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025

Batey and Deputy Attorney General Jeff Nye, chief of the office’s criminal law division, were assigned in April 2023 to assist Thompson and his senior deputy attorney, Ashley Jennings, with the case. —Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 22 Feb. 2025

In criminal law, a final judgment must include the defendant’s sentence. —Wayne Unger, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2025

While a traditional pre-law program is an ideal option for some students, others might pursue an undergraduate degree in STEM or business before attending a law program tailored to their particular sub-field (contract law, constitutional law, criminal law and more). —Christopher Rim, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for criminal law

• avoirdupois
• aa
• aha
• bashaw
• bradshaw
• byelaw
• bylaw
• chainsaw
• cheraw
• coleslaw
• crenshaw
• dada

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.