Phrase guide

physical law

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A scientific generalization based upon empirical observation that is part of physics, standing in contrast to chemical law, biological law, sociological law, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A universal statement about the operation of nature, based on empirical observations of physical behavior, tested using the scientific method.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: natural law, law of nature

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: fyzikální zákon — scientific law that is part of physics
  • Polish: prawo fizyki — scientific law that is part of physics
  • Czech: přírodní zákon — universal statement about the operation of nature
  • Finnish: fysiikan laki — universal statement about the operation of nature
  • Finnish: luonnonlaki — universal statement about the operation of nature
  • German: Naturgesetz — universal statement about the operation of nature
  • German: physikalisches Gesetz — universal statement about the operation of nature
  • Polish: prawo fizyki — universal statement about the operation of nature
  • Romanian: lege fizică — universal statement about the operation of nature
  • Russian: физи́ческий зако́н (fizíčeskij zakón) — universal statement about the operation of nature
  • Spanish: ley de la naturaleza — universal statement about the operation of nature
  • Spanish: leyes naturales — universal statement about the operation of nature
  • Spanish: ley científica — universal statement about the operation of nature
  • Swedish: naturlag — universal statement about the operation of nature