Common Law (Noun)
Meaning 1
(civil law) a law established by following earlier judicial decisions.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The concept of common law originated in England and is still applied in many countries that were formerly part of the British Empire.
- The United States has a system of common law, with many legal principles derived from English law.
- Common law systems have traditionally relied on precedent and analogical reasoning to decide cases.
- The principles of common law were largely established through a series of landmark court decisions over several centuries.
- Unlike civil law, which relies on written statutes and codes, common law is developed through the accumulation of judicial decisions and traditions.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
A system of jurisprudence based on judicial precedents rather than statutory laws; "common law originated in the unwritten laws of England and was later applied in the United States".
Classification
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects.
Examples
- The court's decision was based on common law, which had been established through years of judicial precedents.
- In the absence of a specific statute, the judge relied on common law to guide her ruling.
- The concept of common law has its roots in medieval England, where it was used to settle disputes between individuals.
- The United States adopted many of the principles of common law from England, which continue to influence American jurisprudence today.
- The doctrine of stare decisis is a fundamental principle of common law, requiring judges to follow established precedents in their decisions.