law-abidingness
Definition
- Noun:
- Conformity to law: "law-abidingness" denotes the quality or state of consistently following and respecting the laws of a society or community. It implies a habitual and principled adherence to legal rules, often associated with good citizenship and moral integrity.
Usage Examples
- (The community consistently follows the law.)
- (Her habit of obeying legal rules was clear.)
- (The state of following laws is essential for societal stability.)
Advanced Usage
"to uphold law-abidingness": to support or maintain the practice of following laws.
- The judge emphasized the importance of upholding law-abidingness among citizens. (The judge stressed the need for people to continue obeying laws.)
"a model of law-abidingness": an exemplary person or group demonstrating strict adherence to law.
- She was considered a model of law-abidingness, never having broken a single rule in her life. (She was a perfect example of someone who always follows the law.)
Variants and Related Words
Law-abiding (adj): describing a person or group that obeys the law.
- The law-abiding citizens were relieved when the dangerous criminal was caught. (The citizens who follow the law felt relieved.)
Lawlessness (n): the opposite of law-abidingness; a state of disorder due to lack of legal control.
- The region descended into lawlessness after the government collapsed. (The area became chaotic without laws.)
Synonyms
- Obedience to law: the act of complying with legal rules.
- Legality: the quality of being lawful or conforming to law.
- Rectitude: moral correctness or integrity, often in legal contexts.
Related Idioms
"Toe the line": to conform to rules or standards, especially legal ones.
- The new employee was careful to toe the line, showing law-abidingness from day one. (The employee followed all rules strictly.)
"Play by the rules": to act in accordance with established laws or regulations.
- In a fair society, everyone must play by the rules, demonstrating law-abidingness. (Everyone must follow the laws.)