higher law

noun

: a principle of divine or moral law that is considered to be superior to constitutions and enacted legislation

Examples of higher law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
There is no higher law of overriding morality, and there's also no responsibility. CBS News, 13 July 2024 Sister Megan Rice and her compatriots, Michael Walli and Greg Boertje-Obed, declared this an act of protest and love in the service of a higher law, but the incident prompted a two-week shutdown of the facility, and they were charged and convicted of intending to endanger the national defense. Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2021 Measured against the sweep of Anglo-American legal history, judicial review—the power of unelected judges to invalidate, as contrary to higher law, an act of the legislature—was a radical development. Raymond Kethledge, WSJ, 29 Nov. 2021 This was expected; such sanctuary was understood purely as moral confrontation, proclaiming a righteous and sheltering higher law. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, The New York Review of Books, 3 Nov. 2020 See all Example Sentences for higher law 

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of higher law was in 1593

Dictionary Entries Near higher law

Cite this Entry

“Higher law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/higher%20law. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!