common law
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Justice Elena Kagan said the administration was seeking to undo a legal tradition of birthright citizenship that dates back to English common law.
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
When it came to creating this new government, rebelling against and pushing back against restrictions we had experienced under English common law, press freedom was seen to be essential.
From Slate • Feb. 24, 2026
The English jurist’s “History of the Pleas of the Crown,” published posthumously in 1736, influenced the development of common law in England, the British colonies and, eventually, the United States.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026
"What concerns me a bit is you're encouraging us to adopt a common law rule that would essentially eliminate liability," Jackson said.
From Barron's • Dec. 1, 2025
The English had the common law, which relied on the jury system.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
