common law
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Blockaders even developed a legal argument to justify their actions, drawing on the common law defense of necessity, which allows someone to break a law to achieve a greater moral good.
From Slate • Jun. 2, 2026
It can be traced to English common law, which imposed a duty on parents to prevent foreseeable damage or harm done by their children.
From Slate • Mar. 5, 2026
The English jurist’s “History of the Pleas of the Crown,” published posthumously in 1736, influenced the development of common law in England, the British colonies and, eventually, the United States.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026
"What concerns me a bit is you're encouraging us to adopt a common law rule that would essentially eliminate liability," Jackson said.
From Barron's • Dec. 1, 2025
The English had the common law, which relied on the jury system.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
