Meaning: According to rightful entitlement or claim.

Part of speech: adverb

Example: The country was de jure independent after the treaty.

Category: Law › Legal Terms

Synonyms:

• legally
• officially

Meaning: A law or rule that is no longer enforced.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The regulation became a dead letter after the new law was passed.

Category: Law

Synonyms:

• obsolete rule
• unenforced law

Antonyms:

• active law
• enforced rule

Meaning: An official document stating the cause of a person's death.

Part of speech: noun

Example: You need a death certificate for the insurance claim.

Category: Law › Documentation

Synonyms:

• obituary
• death record

Meaning: A section of a prison where inmates await execution.

Part of speech: noun

Example: He spent years on death row before his appeal.

Category: Law › Criminal Law

Synonyms: execution row

Meaning: A judicial sentence imposing the death penalty.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The court issued a death sentence for the crime.

Category: Law › Criminal Law

Synonyms:

• capital sentence
• execution order

Meaning: An official order for the execution of a person.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The court issued a death warrant.

Category: Law › Criminal Law

Synonyms:

• execution order
• death sentence

Meaning: To exclude someone from a privilege or activity.

Part of speech: verb

Example: He was debarred from the competition for cheating.

Category: Law

Synonyms:

• exclude
• ban

Antonyms:

• include
• allow

Meaning: An official order or decision made by a legal authority.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The president issued a decree to address the crisis.

Category: Law

Synonyms:

• order
• mandate

Meaning: A final decree that legally ends a marriage.

Part of speech: noun

Example: She received her decree absolute after the divorce was finalized.

Category: Law › Family Law

Meaning: A provisional decree that will become absolute after a certain period unless contested.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The court issued a decree nisi in the divorce case.

Category: Law › Family Law

Meaning: To remove the criminal status from an act or behavior.

Part of speech: verb

Example: The state decided to decriminalize marijuana.

Category: Law › Criminal Law

Synonyms:

• legalize
• permit

Meaning: An action or something that is done, especially a legal document.

Part of speech: noun

Example: He signed the deed to transfer ownership of the property.

Category: Law

Synonyms:

• action
• document

Meaning: A legal document outlining an agreement between parties.

Part of speech: noun

Example: They signed a deed of covenant to ensure compliance.

Category: Law › Contracts

Meaning: A legal document that confirms a change of name.

Part of speech: noun

Example: He changed his name by deed poll.

Category: Law › Identity

Meaning: The action of damaging someone's reputation.

Part of speech: noun

Example: He sued for defamation after false claims were made about him.

Category: Law › Civil Law

Synonyms:

• slander
• libel

Meaning: Tending to defame or damage someone's reputation.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The article contained defamatory statements.

Category: Law › Civil Law

Synonyms:

• slanderous
• libelous

Meaning: To damage someone's reputation by false statements.

Part of speech: verb

Example: He was accused of trying to defame his opponent.

Category: Law › Civil Law

Synonyms:

• slander
• libel

Meaning: To protect from harm or danger.

Part of speech: verb

Example: She will defend her thesis next week.

Category: Law

Synonyms:

• protect
• guard

Antonyms: attack

Meaning: A person accused in a court of law.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The defendant pleaded not guilty.

Category: Law › Criminal Law

Synonyms: accused

Meaning: A person who defends someone or something.

Part of speech: noun

Example: He is a strong defender of human rights.

Category: Law

Synonyms: protector

Meaning: The action of defending or protecting.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The defense was well-prepared for the trial.

Category: Law

Synonyms: defence

Meaning: Able to be defended or justified.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The decision was deemed defensible in court.

Category: Law

Synonyms: justifiable

Antonyms: indefensible

Meaning: To illegally obtain money or property from someone.

Part of speech: verb

Example: He was charged with trying to defraud investors.

Category: Law › Fraud

Synonyms:

• swindle
• cheat

Meaning: Minor crime, especially by young people.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Programs aim to reduce juvenile delinquency.

Category: Law › Criminal Law

Synonyms:

• misconduct
• offense

Antonyms:

• lawfulness
• obedience

Meaning: A person who commits a crime, especially a young one.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The delinquent was caught stealing.

Category: Law › Criminal Law

Synonyms:

• offender
• criminal

Antonyms: law-abiding citizen

Meaning: Land attached to a manor and used for the owner's own use.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The lord's demesne included vast fields and forests.

Category: Law › Property Law

Synonyms:

• estate
• land

Antonyms:

• common land
• public land

Meaning: A device used to immobilize a vehicle due to unpaid parking tickets.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The car had a Denver boot on it for unpaid fines.

Category: Law › Traffic Law

Synonyms:

• wheel clamp
• boot

Meaning: To expel a foreigner from a country.

Part of speech: verb

Example: The government decided to deport the illegal immigrants.

Category: Law › Immigration Law

Synonyms:

• expel
• remove

Meaning: A person who is expelled from a country.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The deportee was sent back to their home country.

Category: Law › Immigration Law

Synonyms:

• expellee
• refugee

Meaning: A formal statement made under oath.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The lawyer took a deposition from the witness.

Category: Law › Legal Procedure

Synonyms:

• testimony
• statement

Meaning: To take something away from someone.

Part of speech: verb

Example: The law should not deprive citizens of their rights.

Category: Law

Synonyms:

• deny
• withhold

Antonyms:

• provide
• supply

Meaning: To make someone a deputy or give them authority.

Part of speech: verb

Example: The sheriff can deputize citizens to help with law enforcement.

Category: Law

Synonyms:

• appoint
• designate

Meaning: The act of neglecting one's duties.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The officer faced charges for dereliction of duty.

Category: Law

Synonyms:

• neglect
• abandonment

Meaning: Failure to fulfill one's responsibilities.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The soldier was court-martialed for dereliction of duty.

Category: Law

Synonyms: neglect of duty

Meaning: To detract from the worth or value of something.

Part of speech: verb

Example: His comments did not derogate her achievements.

Category: Law

Synonyms:

• diminish
• belittle

Antonyms: praise

Meaning: The act of derogating or belittling.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The derogation of her work was unjust.

Category: Law

Synonyms:

• diminishment
• belittlement

Meaning: To keep someone in custody or under restraint.

Part of speech: verb

Example: The police may detain suspects for questioning.

Category: Law › Criminal Law

Synonyms:

• hold
• restrict

Meaning: A person who is held in custody, especially for political reasons.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The detainee was released after a week.

Category: Law › Criminal Law

Synonyms:

• prisoner
• inmate

Meaning: A person, especially a police officer, whose job is to investigate crimes.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The detective solved the case after many interviews.

Category: Law › Criminal Law

Synonyms:

• investigator
• sleuth

Meaning: The act of keeping someone in custody.

Part of speech: noun

Example: He was held in detention for several hours.

Category: Law › Criminal Law

Synonyms:

• custody
• confinement