natural law

noun

: a body of law or a specific principle held to be derived from nature and binding upon human society in the absence of or in addition to positive law

Examples of natural law in a Sentence

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.
Indeed, there is convincing evidence of momentum in stock and other asset returns, but this is not an unfailing natural law. Bill Stone, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024 As natural laws begin to break down, a team of scientists and a detective work together in the 21st century to prevent a humanity-destroying threat. Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2024 Today, modern liberals call those rules universal values, natural laws, or human rights. Gregory Fried, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2014 In the eyes of a transcendent God or natural law, all people -- whether Germans, Russians, or Jews -- were essentially the same. Gregory Fried, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2014 See all Example Sentences for natural law 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of natural law was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near natural law

Cite this Entry

“Natural law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/natural%20law. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

Legal Definition

natural law

noun
: a body of law or a specific principle of law that is held to be derived from nature and binding upon human society in the absence of or in addition to positive law

Note: While natural law, based on a notion of timeless order, does not receive as much credence as it did formerly, it was an important influence on the enumeration of natural rights by Thomas Jefferson and others.

More from Merriam-Webster on natural law

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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