Law — English Vocabulary
50 essential words about law in the live bank, with meanings and examples. Open any word for its full page.
law /lɔː/ noun B2
An official rule of a country that everyone must follow; the whole system of such rules.
Example: A new law bans phones in schools.
court /kɔːrt/ noun B2
The place where judges decide legal cases; also the people who decide there.
Example: The case goes to court next month.
judge /dʒʌdʒ/ noun / verb B2
The official who controls a court and decides punishments; to form an opinion about something.
Example: The judge sentenced him to two years.
crime /kraɪm/ noun B2
An action that breaks the law, such as stealing or hurting someone.
Example: Car theft is a common crime in big cities.
prison /ˈprɪzən/ noun B2
A building where criminals are kept as a punishment.
Example: He spent five years in prison.
guilty /ˈɡɪlti/ adjective B2
Having done something wrong or illegal; feeling bad because you did something wrong.
Example: The jury found him guilty of theft.
innocent /ˈɪnəsənt/ adjective B2
Not guilty of a crime; not having done anything wrong; without experience of the bad parts of life.
Example: The court declared her innocent.
witness /ˈwɪtnəs/ noun / verb B2
A person who sees an event happen, especially a crime; to see something happen.
Example: A witness saw the accident clearly.
lawyer /ˈlɔɪər/ noun B2
A person whose job is to advise people about the law and speak for them in court.
Example: She hired a lawyer to write the contract.
election /ɪˈlekʃən/ noun B2
The process of choosing leaders or representatives by voting.
Example: The election takes place in November.
legal /ˈliːɡəl/ adjective B2
Allowed by law; relating to the law and lawyers.
Example: It is legal to vote at eighteen.
illegal /ɪˈliːɡəl/ adjective B2
Not allowed by law; against the rules of a country or sport.
Example: It is illegal to park here.
permit /ˈpɜːrmɪt/ noun / verb B2
An official document that gives permission to do something; (verb) to allow something formally.
Example: You need a permit to build here.
ban /bæn/ verb / noun B2
To officially forbid something, or not allow it; an official order forbidding something.
Example: The city banned smoking in restaurants.
fine /faɪn/ noun B2
Money paid as a punishment for breaking a law or rule; also (adjective) good, of high quality, or (in speech) acceptable/OK.
Example: He paid a fine for speeding.
license /ˈlaɪsəns/ noun B2
An official document giving permission to do something, own something, or use something — most famously to drive.
Example: She got her driver's license at seventeen.
regulation /ˌreɡjəˈleɪʃən/ noun B2
An official rule made by a government or organization to control an activity; the control itself.
Example: Safety regulations protect workers.
rights /raɪts/ noun B2
The things every person is legally and morally allowed to do and have — freedom, fair treatment, safety; also legal ownership claims.
Example: Everyone has the right to education.
rule /ruːl/ noun B2
An official instruction that tells people what they must or must not do; also a general truth or habit.
Example: The first rule is: be on time.
duty /ˈdjuːti/ noun B2
Something you must do because it is your job or because it is morally right; also a tax on imported goods.
Example: It is a nurse's duty to care for patients.
harassment /həˈræsmənt/ noun C1
Repeated behavior that annoys, threatens, or frightens someone — including at work, in streets, or online — and is against rules or laws.
Example: The company has a strict policy on harassment.
corruption /kəˈrʌpʃən/ noun C1
Dishonest or illegal behavior by powerful people, especially officials who take money or favors to misuse their power.
Example: The mayor resigned over corruption.
bribe /braɪb/ noun / verb C1
Money or a gift given to someone in power to persuade them to do something dishonest or illegal; to give such a gift.
Example: He offered the officer a bribe.
theft /θeft/ noun C1
The crime of stealing something — taking property that belongs to someone else without permission.
Example: He was charged with theft.
violence /ˈvaɪələns/ noun C1
Behavior that uses physical force to hurt people or damage things; also great force of nature (the violence of the storm).
Example: The film contains scenes of violence.
punishment /ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/ noun C1
Something unpleasant done to someone because they broke a law or rule — fines, prison, or loss of privileges; the act of punishing.
Example: The punishment for the crime is five years.
fraud /frɔːd/ noun C1
The crime of cheating someone to get money or advantage dishonestly; a person or thing that is not what it claims to be.
Example: He was jailed for bank fraud.
accuse /əˈkjuːz/ verb C1
To say that someone did something wrong or illegal, often formally in court; to blame someone in speech.
Example: He was accused of stealing the money.
confess /kənˈfes/ verb C1
To admit that you did something wrong, often to the police or in a religious setting; also to admit a private feeling.
Example: He confessed to the crime.
investigate /ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪt/ verb C1
To examine a crime, problem, or event carefully to discover the truth, by collecting facts and evidence.
Example: Police are investigating the fire.
legislation /ˌledʒɪsˈleɪʃən/ noun C1
Laws that are being made or have been made by a government.
Example: New legislation protects renters from sudden price rises.
defendant /dɪˈfendənt/ noun C1
The person in a court case who is accused of a crime or being sued.
Example: The defendant told the jury his story.
jury /ˈdʒʊəri/ noun C1
A group of ordinary citizens chosen to listen to a court case and decide if the accused is guilty.
Example: The jury reached a verdict in two hours.
verdict /ˈvɜːrdɪkt/ noun C1
The decision of a jury or judge about whether someone is guilty; by extension, any final judgment.
Example: The verdict shocked the whole country.
trial /ˈtraɪəl/ noun C1
The formal process of examining a case in court to decide guilt; also a test of something new.
Example: The trial lasted three weeks.
suspect /ˈsʌspekt/ (noun) noun / verb C1
A person believed to have committed a crime; to believe something is true or that someone did something wrong.
Example: Police arrested the main suspect.
sentence /ˈsentəns/ noun / verb C1
In law: the punishment a judge gives a criminal. In language: a group of words that forms a complete statement.
Example: The judge gave him a ten-year sentence.
appeal /əˈpiːl/ noun / verb C1
A formal request to a higher court to change a decision; also a public request for help, or attraction.
Example: Her lawyers filed an appeal against the verdict.
justice /ˈdʒʌstɪs/ noun C1
Fairness in the way people are treated and in how laws are applied; the legal system itself.
Example: The family finally got justice after ten years.
arrest /əˈrest/ verb / noun C1
To take someone to a police station because they are believed to have committed a crime; the act of doing this.
Example: Officers arrested two men near the bank.
attorney /əˈtɜːrni/ noun C1
A lawyer, especially one who represents clients in court (American English).
Example: Her attorney spoke for her in court.
prosecution /ˌprɒsɪˈkjuːʃən/ noun C1
The lawyers and process acting for the state to prove a person committed a crime; also the act of prosecuting.
Example: The prosecution presented its first witness.
testimony /ˈtestɪməni/ noun C1
A formal statement given by a witness under oath in court, telling what they saw or know.
Example: Her testimony changed the trial.
custody /ˈkʌstədi/ noun C1
The legal right or duty to care for a child, especially after divorce; also the state of being held by police.
Example: The mother received full custody of the children.
plea /pliː/ noun C1
The defendant's formal answer in court — guilty or not guilty; also an urgent emotional request for help.
Example: He entered a plea of not guilty.
oath /əʊθ/ noun C1
A formal promise, often made on a holy book or by law, to tell the truth or be loyal.
Example: Witnesses take an oath before testifying.
convict /kənˈvɪkt/ verb C1
To decide officially in court that someone is guilty of a crime. (The noun 'a convict' names a prisoner.)
Example: The jury convicted him of theft.
acquit /əˈkwɪt/ verb C1
To decide officially in court that someone is NOT guilty of a crime.
Example: The jury acquitted her after one hour.
sue /suː/ verb C1
To make a legal claim against a person or company in court, usually asking for money because they harmed you.
Example: She sued the company for discrimination.
clause /klɔːz/ noun C1
One separate part or condition in a legal document or contract; in grammar, a group of words with a subject and verb.
Example: Read clause 7 before signing.