Phrase guide

trite 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 law that is obvious or common knowledge.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Laws of this kind in general.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: law

Examples

  • 1928. Lord Sumner, Levene v. Inland Revenue A.C. 217,227. It is trite law that His Majesty's subjects are free if they can make their own arrangements so that their cases may fall outside the scope of the taxing Acts.
  • 2006. Gordon Jackson (Glasgow Govan), Subordinate Legislation Committee Official Report #31, October 2006. Trite law is law that, if you do not know it, you should. It is like saying that two and two is four. For example, there is a presumption of innocence in Scotland. That is trite law—something that everybody knows."

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.