: the enactment of laws (see law entry 1 sense 1a(1)) and their strict enforcement by police and the courts
He has touted his conservative approach to local government, emphasizing law and order and conservative fiscal policies.—
Andrew Quintana and Daniela Flamini
Andrew Quintana and Daniela FlaminiBut Rucker said Deters' view of law and order can be inconsistent. He pointed to Deters' decision to not pursue charges against former Bengal Adam "Pacman" Jones, who was accused in 2017 of spitting on a jail nurse—a felony crime, Rucker said.—Kevin Grasha
Kevin Grasha
also
: the safe, civil, and orderly functioning of society viewed especially as a result of the enactment and strict enforcement of laws
"We're looking to you, Councillor, and to the other leading citizens, to help us in upholding law and order in this township." —Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle Another thing that impressed itself upon me throughout England was the high regard that all classes have for law and order, and the ease and thoroughness with which everything is done. —Booker T. Washington
Booker T. Washington It is both wrong and dangerous to threaten to deploy American soldiers against American citizens unless there is a complete breakdown of law and order in a state and the governor requests that assistance. —William Perry
William Perry
law-and-or·der
ˈlȯ-ən(d)-ˈor-dər 
: relating to, characterized by, or advocating the enactment of laws and their strict enforcement
All these years, I've thought of Henry Hyde as a law-and-order kind of guy. A real hardnose when it comes to punishing those who break the law.—Mike Royko
Mike Royko… all four dissenters were recent appointees of Richard Nixon, who had won the White House with a carefully orchestrated law-and-order campaign.—David Oshinsky
David OshinskySimon Kuper … says the Dutch public is more receptive than ever to law-and-order policies. The murders of Fortuyn in 2002 and Theo van Gogh, a controversial filmmaker in 2004, left the Dutch with a profound fear of chaos and disorder, and a negative self-image.—Thijs Niemantsverdriet
Thijs NiemantsverdrietExamples of law and order in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Is Trump’s goal truly to make sure the U.S. is a country of law and order, or to rid the nation of unwanted immigrants?
—Orlando Sentinel and Miami Herald Editorial Boards, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2025
Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025
The numbers held steady during the pandemic, when public health officials called for fewer people to be held in jails, and then surged when Gabe Gore — who cast himself as a law-and-order candidate — became circuit attorney and ramped up prosecutions.
—Taylor Tiamoyo Harris, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for law and order
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Noun
However, the allegations of cyber attacks are alarming and could potentially distort law and order.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Is Trump’s goal truly to make sure the U.S. is a country of law and order, or to rid the nation of unwanted immigrants?
—Orlando Sentinel and Miami Herald Editorial Boards, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Mega-rich crypto backers and companies, critical of the SEC’s law-and-order approach to crypto under President Joe Biden, poured hundreds of millions of dollars into Trump’s campaign coffers last year.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025
The numbers held steady during the pandemic, when public health officials called for fewer people to be held in jails, and then surged when Gabe Gore — who cast himself as a law-and-order candidate — became circuit attorney and ramped up prosecutions.
—Taylor Tiamoyo Harris, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for law and order
Cite this Entry
“Law and order.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/law%20and%20order. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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