Phrase guide

positive law

noun · 1 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Law explicitly made, as compared to natural law; law prescribed by express enactment or institution.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

1651: From Thomas Hobbes, The Leviathan

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: säädännäinen oikeus — Translations
  • Finnish: säädännäinen laki — Translations
  • French: droit positif — Translations
  • Polish: prawo pozytywne — Translations
  • Vietnamese: pháp luật thực định — Translations