What does rule of law mean?

Definitions for rule of law
rule of law

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word rule of law.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. rule of lawnoun

    a state of order in which events conform to the law

Wiktionary

  1. rule of lawnoun

    The doctrine that no individual is above the law and that everyone must answer to it.

ChatGPT

  1. rule of law

    The rule of law is a principle under which all persons, institutions, and entities are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced, and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human rights norms and standards. It requires that laws are transparent, predictable, and applied evenly to everyone, regardless of wealth, power or status, thereby ensuring fairness and respect for individual rights and freedoms.

Wikidata

  1. Rule of law

    The rule of law generally refers to the "authority and influence of law in society," especially as a constraint upon behavior, including behavior of government officials. This phrase is also sometimes used in other senses. In its general sense, the phrase can be traced back to the 16th century, and it was popularized in the 19th century by British jurist A. V. Dicey. The concept was familiar to ancient philosophers such as Aristotle, who wrote "Law should govern". Rule of law implies that every citizen is subject to the law. It stands in contrast to the idea that the ruler is above the law, for example by divine right. Despite wide use by politicians, judges and academics, the rule of law has been described as "an exceedingly elusive notion" giving rise to a "rampant divergence of understandings ... everyone is for it but have contrasting convictions about what it is." At least two principal conceptions of the rule of law can be identified: a formalist or "thin" definition, and a substantive or "thick" definition. Formalist definitions of the rule of law do not make a judgment about the "justness" of law itself, but define specific procedural attributes that a legal framework must have in order to be in compliance with the rule of law. Substantive conceptions of the rule of law go beyond this and include certain substantive rights that are said to be based on, or derived from, the rule of law.

Editors Contribution

  1. rule of law

    The principle that all citizens, members of all forms of unity government and diplomats are equal and are accountable to the law of all forms of unity government applied equally, fairly and justly.

    The rule of law applies to us all


    Submitted by MaryC on March 28, 2021  

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of rule of law in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of rule of law in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of rule of law in a Sentence

  1. Helen Duffy:

    It is remarkable, and an affront to the rule of law, that despite the mass of information now available to us still no one has been held to account for torture.

  2. State Department:

    We are steadfast in our commitment to promoting the rule of law, to promoting respect for human rights globally, the Biden administration seeks cooperation with Turkey on common priorities, and as with any NATO ally, we will continue to engage in dialogue to address any disagreements.

  3. Maung Saung Kha:

    We had just said that we would disperse and end the demonstration and then the police started beating us. They broke police ethics and the rule of law. Nine people from our group have been arrested.

  4. Tim Kaine:

    That's a message of strength and it especially speaks to people around the world who are in the streets protesting... because they want the rule of law.

  5. Sheldon Whitehouse:

    You were the chairman of the Republican Attorney General's Association and the Rule of Law Defense Fund in the run-up to the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol, rule of Law Defense Fund sent robocalls urging recipients to march to the Capitol on Jan. 6. Were you personally present in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6?


Translations for rule of law

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"rule of law." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 15 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/rule+of+law>.

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