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law-abiding
adjective
law-abid·ing
ˈlȯ-ə-ˌbī-diŋ
: abiding by or obedient to the law
law-abiding citizens
law-abidingness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of law-abiding in a Sentence
the law-abiding citizens of the neighborhood did everything they could to help reduce street crime
Recent Examples on the Web
The argument Lopez and Tabares are making — that undocumented immigrants who otherwise are law-abiding, productive residents of our city can be better protected from the coming federal crackdown if local law enforcement helps the feds identify the truly bad apples — is worth consideration.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2025
Implementing more restrictive gun laws ignores this fact and, in so doing, only serves to further restrict the rights of law-abiding gun owners.
—John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
Measuring various outcomes beyond age and education, like innovation, language skills, home and business ownership, income growth, and law-abiding citizenship, will help the U.S. take the lead in welcoming immigrants with high adaptability, ambition, and ingenuity scores.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025
The wizard is outed as a fraud (both Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible play these scenes with the pitch-perfect precision that comes only with their experience) who is trying to use Elphaba’s powers to oppress animals (who are walking, talking, law-abiding citizens in Oz).
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 22 Nov. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1834, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near law-abiding
Cite this Entry
“Law-abiding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/law-abiding. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
law-abiding
adjective
law-abid·ing
ˈlȯ-ə-ˌbīd-iŋ
: obedient to the law
Legal Definition
law-abiding
adjective
law-abid·ing
ˈlȯ-ə-ˈbī-diŋ
: abiding by or obedient to the law
law-abidingness
noun
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