criminal law: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “criminal law” mean?
The branch of law concerned with acts defined as crimes by the state and the punishment of those who commit them.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The branch of law concerned with acts defined as crimes by the state and the punishment of those who commit them.
The body of statutory and case law that defines criminal offenses, regulates the apprehension, charging, and trial of suspected persons, and fixes penalties for convicted offenders. It distinguishes offenses against the state or public order from civil wrongs (torts) against private individuals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Procedural and substantive differences exist within the legal systems but the term itself is identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations of state prosecution, guilt, punishment, and public order.
Frequency
Equally common in both legal and general discourse in the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “criminal law” in a Sentence
[Subject] + studies + criminal law.[Subject] + is governed by + criminal law.[Subject] + falls under + criminal law.Criminal law + deals with + [object].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “criminal law” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The act is now criminalised under the new statute.
American English
- The act is now criminalized under the new statute.
adverb
British English
- The defendant was found criminally liable.
American English
- The corporation acted criminally negligent.
adjective
British English
- She is a leading criminal law barrister.
American English
- He is a prominent criminal law attorney.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts of corporate crime or compliance.
Academic
Primary context. Refers to a field of legal study and research.
Everyday
Used in general discussion about crime, justice, and legal proceedings.
Technical
Primary context in legal practice, court proceedings, and legislation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “criminal law”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “criminal law”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “criminal law”
- Using 'criminal law' as a plural countable noun (e.g., 'different criminal laws' can be ambiguous; prefer 'different areas of criminal law' or 'different criminal statutes').
- Confusing it with 'criminal case' (a specific instance) or 'criminal lawyer' (a practitioner).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Criminal law involves the state prosecuting an individual for an act considered harmful to society, with penalties like imprisonment. Civil law involves disputes between individuals or organizations, with remedies usually being monetary compensation.
Yes, many university courses and degrees focus on criminal law as an academic discipline within criminology, sociology, or pre-law studies.
No. While the term refers to the same general concept, the specific crimes, procedures, and punishments are defined by each country's own legal system and statutes.
It is typically treated as a singular, uncountable noun when referring to the field or system. One studies 'criminal law' (not 'criminal laws'). 'Criminal laws' can refer to multiple specific statutes.
The branch of law concerned with acts defined as crimes by the state and the punishment of those who commit them.
Criminal law is usually formal, technical, academic in register.
Criminal law: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkrɪm.ɪ.nəl ˈlɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkrɪm.ə.nəl ˈlɑː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The long arm of the law (related concept)”
- “Throw the book at someone (related concept)”
- “Above the law (related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'CRIMEinal law' – it's the law about CRIMES.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAW IS A NET (to catch criminals), LAW IS A SHIELD (for society), LAW IS A SCALE (balancing justice).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a core concern of criminal law?