common law

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒmən lɔː/

Definition

The body of law derived from judicial decisions and custom rather than from statutes or regulations enacted by a legislature.

Examples

• The judge based her ruling on established common law principles regarding property rights.

• Many aspects of contract law in the United States are rooted in English common law.

• He argued that the common law tradition allows for more flexibility in interpreting complex legal disputes.

Synonyms of common law

Words with a similar meaning to common law:

• case law
• precedent
• unwritten law
• jurisprudence

Antonyms of common law

Words with the opposite meaning to common law:

• statutory law
• civil law

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