criminal law

noun

: the law of crimes and their punishments

Examples of criminal law in a Sentence

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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.
Many experts are skeptical of the challengers’ claims of a powerful president that gets to unilaterally shape enforcement even outside of criminal law. — Michael Phillis, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026 Because the law had bounced between the Vehicle Code and the Penal Code, vehicular manslaughter already had separate, lighter sentencing under criminal laws. — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026 The young men, who were between 14 and 21 years old at the time, were tried under Germany’s juvenile criminal law and given sentences between one and a half to five years in prison. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 The young men, who were between 14 and 21 years old at the time, were tried under Germany’s juvenile criminal law and given sentences from one and a half to five years in prison. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for criminal law

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of criminal law was in 1672

Rhymes for criminal law

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Browse Nearby Words

criminalize
criminal law
criminal lawyer
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Cite this Entry

“Criminal law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminal%20law. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Legal Definition

criminal law

noun
: public law that deals with crimes and their prosecution compare civil law

Note: Substantive criminal law defines crimes, and procedural criminal law sets down criminal procedure. Substantive criminal law was originally common law for the most part. It was later codified and is now found in federal and state statutory law.

More from Merriam-Webster on criminal law

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about criminal law

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