the letter of the law

noun phrase

: exactly what the law says
They seem to be more concerned with obeying the letter of the law than with understanding the spirit of the law.

Examples of the letter of the law in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There are caveats, of course — America’s gun laws are anything but consistent — but most 3D-printing gunsmiths operate within the letter of the law, carefully walking lines and navigating legal gray areas where applicable. — Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2026 Yet, like the work requirements, CMS’s overhaul goes far beyond the letter of the law by eventually cutting off a mechanism through which some 70% of those dollars flow, explains Leonardo Cuello, an expert on Medicaid policy at Georgetown University. — Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 16 June 2026 An exchange can pay a holder a reward that tracks Treasury yields, market it jointly with the issuer, and stay inside the letter of the law while defeating its purpose. — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 10 June 2026 Officials also could argue they don’t need to comply with the letter of the law. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for the letter of the law

Rhymes for the letter of the law

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Browse Nearby Words

the less said, the better
the letter of the law
the life and soul of the party
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Cite this Entry

“The letter of the law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20letter%20of%20the%20law. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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