A2 noun Neutral #319 most common

law

/lɔː/

A system of rules created by a government to guide people's behavior in a society. These rules are enforced by institutions like the police and courts, and there are consequences if they are broken.

Examples

3 of 5
1

You must obey the law when driving a car.

You must obey the law when driving a car.

2

The new law was passed by parliament yesterday afternoon.

The new law was passed by parliament yesterday afternoon.

3

Don't worry, it's not against the law to park your bike here.

Don't worry, it's not against the law to park your bike here.

Word Family

Noun
law
Verb
legislate
Adverb
lawfully
Adjective
lawful
Related
lawyer
💡

Memory Tip

L-A-W: Legal Acts Work to keep us safe.

Quick Quiz

It is against the ____ to drive a car without a valid license.

Correct!

The correct answer is: law

Examples

1

You must obey the law when driving a car.

everyday

You must obey the law when driving a car.

2

The new law was passed by parliament yesterday afternoon.

formal

The new law was passed by parliament yesterday afternoon.

3

Don't worry, it's not against the law to park your bike here.

informal

Don't worry, it's not against the law to park your bike here.

4

Scholars often analyze how a law impacts social behavior.

academic

Scholars often analyze how a law impacts social behavior.

5

The firm must comply with international employment law.

business

The firm must comply with international employment law.

Word Family

Noun
law
Verb
legislate
Adverb
lawfully
Adjective
lawful
Related
lawyer

Common Collocations

break the law break the law
obey the law obey the law
pass a law pass a law
enforce the law enforce the law
international law international law

Common Phrases

against the law

against the law

the long arm of the law

the long arm of the law

take the law into one's own hands

take the law into one's own hands

Often Confused With

law vs rule

Laws are official government regulations, while rules are less formal and can apply to games or schools.

law vs right

A right is a freedom you have, whereas a law is an obligation you must follow.

📝

Usage Notes

When referring to the academic subject or the system as a whole, it is often used without an article (e.g., 'to study law'). When referring to a specific regulation, use 'a law' or 'the law'.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often say 'make a law' when 'pass a law' is more common in professional contexts. They also sometimes confuse 'legal' (adjective) with 'law' (noun).

💡

Memory Tip

L-A-W: Legal Acts Work to keep us safe.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Old Norse word 'lag', meaning something laid down or fixed.

Grammar Patterns

countable: 'There are many laws.' uncountable: 'He is interested in law.' preposition: 'against the law', 'by law'
🌍

Cultural Context

In many English-speaking countries, the concept of 'the rule of law' implies that no one, including government officials, is above the law.

Quick Quiz

It is against the ____ to drive a car without a valid license.

Correct!

The correct answer is: law

Related Words

microcredacy

C1

Pertaining to or characterized by the use of micro-credentials or small, specific certifications to demonstrate professional proficiency. It describes educational or career paths that prioritize modular, bite-sized learning over traditional long-term degrees.

enmandsion

C1

A formal noun referring to the process of extending a mandate, physical boundary, or the scope of influence. It often implies a structured or legal enlargement of authority or property rather than just a natural growth.

antegeoty

C1

To conduct a comprehensive geological assessment or survey of a land area before any structural development or human intervention occurs. This process is used to ensure the ground is stable and to record its original state for environmental compliance.

hyperregine

C1

A hyperregine refers to an extremely intensified or rigid system of regulation or management, often used in technical or administrative contexts to describe over-control. It characterizes a state where oversight mechanisms operate at an abnormally high or excessive level, potentially stifling flexibility.

presolvant

C1

A chemical substance or agent applied to a surface or material before the main cleaning or dissolving process to loosen contaminants. It is primarily used in industrial degreasing, dry cleaning, and specialized laboratory procedures to enhance the efficiency of the primary solvent.

monocludible

C1

Describing an object, space, or system that can be closed, blocked, or sealed using a single mechanism or at a solitary point. It is often used in technical, architectural, or logical contexts to denote a singular point of occlusion.

ultraturbtion

C1

To apply extreme, high-frequency agitation or turbulence to a substance, typically in a laboratory or industrial setting. This verb describes the process of disrupting a system's stability to achieve a state of hyper-homogeneity or to trigger a specific reaction.

extrauniable

C1

To extend or adapt a system, credit, or resource so that it functions outside a single university or unit. It is used primarily to describe the process of making institutional assets compatible with broader, multi-organizational frameworks.

antedictive

C1

To state, declare, or indicate a condition or event before it actually occurs; to pre-specify or predict based on prior logic or data. It is typically used in formal, technical, or logical contexts to describe the act of asserting a result in advance of its manifestation.

homogeoant

C1

A substance, agent, or factor that promotes uniformity or homogeneity within a specific geographical or structural environment. It is primarily used in technical contexts to describe something that eliminates diversity to create a consistent, identical state across a given area.

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Start learning languages for free

Start Learning Free