law and order


noun

strict control of crime and repression of violence, sometimes involving the possible restriction of civil rights.

Origin of law and order

First recorded in 1590–1600

Words nearby law and order

Example sentences from the Web for law-and-order

British Dictionary definitions for law-and-order

law-and-order

noun

(modifier) favouring or advocating strong measures to suppress crime and violence a law-and-order candidate

Idioms and Phrases with law-and-order

law and order

Strict enforcement of laws, especially for controlling crime. For example, Our candidate is always talking about law and order. The concept behind this term was stated by Aristotle. Today, however, it also carries the implication of infringing on civil rights in the course of too arduous law enforcement. [Late 1500s]