unwritten law

collocation in English

meaningsofunwrittenandlaw

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withlaw.
unwritten
adjective
uk
/ʌnˈrɪt.ən/us
/ʌnˈrɪt̬.ən/
Something that is unwritten does not exist in a written or ...
See more atunwritten
law
noun
uk
/lɔː/us
/lɑː/
a rule, usually made by a government, that is used to order the way in which a ...
See more atlaw

(Definition ofunwrittenandlawfrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesofunwritten law

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
In such cases, and especially in the first half of 1919, it was common for the 'unwrittenlaw' to be raised in some way by the defence.
From theCambridge English Corpus
There was anunwrittenlawthat this should not be done.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I understand that it is anunwrittenlawthat a maiden speech should be brief and non-controversial.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It is anunwrittenlawthat the shop steward never praises the rate fixer, for if he does, the employer will quickly remove him.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
In the majority of these cases there are social obligations, which, although they are anunwrittenlaw, are nevertheless effective.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Written law is increasingly being replaced byunwrittenlaw, which interprets the flexibility of the markets and provides solutions to specific cases.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
But, in practice, as in so many pieces of legislation, theunwrittenlawof unintended consequences will produce hugely damaging side effects.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It would be regarded as contrary to theunwrittenlawof our constitution.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
That is anunwrittenlaw.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
In my young days there was anunwrittenlawthat if anyone took more than one egg he was really outside the ranks of decent society.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It is anunwrittenlawthat masked and/or costumed participants are not subject to confetti attacks.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Unwrittenlawdeveloped between 1866 and 1868 that this should not be done more than once over the same issue.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
In 1963, alumni and fans combined to show their support for the team in their battle against theunwrittenlaw.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
He then instructed them that they could apply theunwrittenlawof the fair fight and acquit.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
He effectively broke theunwrittenlawof regionalism around which the entire industry had been based.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Section 20 codifies the common law by referring to theunwrittenlaw(i.e. the common law).
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Even the state knows no more powerful unwritten laws than the mythical foundation that guarantees its connection with religion and its growth from mythical notions.
From theCambridge English Corpus
It is, one might say, almost hidebound, with all sorts of precedents, all sorts of laws within laws, and most of all, unwritten laws.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
These unwritten laws are very often quite as strong as any written law.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition ofunwritten
Go to the definition oflaw
See other collocations withlaw