law-abiding

adjective

law-abid·​ing ˈlȯ-ə-ˌbī-diŋ How to pronounce law-abiding (audio)
: abiding by or obedient to the law
law-abiding citizens
law-abidingness noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Instead, fear and misinformation won the day, leaving law-abiding residents at greater risk. Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025 Loyalty to the leader, not the law Security force personalism happens when leaders reshape the country’s security forces by purging nonpartisan, law-abiding officers and promoting loyal officers who would never rise through the ranks on merit. Joe Wright, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025 The case, Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos, is not aimed at influencing the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment nor at preventing law-abiding U.S. citizens from buying guns, says Jonathan Lowy, president and founder of Global Action on Gun Violence. Whitney Eulich, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Mar. 2025 Close to a million law-abiding companies have already complied with the law, and this ruling should be stayed and overturned on appeal. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for law-abiding

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of law-abiding was in 1834

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Law-abiding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/law-abiding. Accessed 24 Mar. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on law-abiding

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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