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Law vs. Right — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Law and Right

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Definitions

Law

Law is a system of rules created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior, with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been variously described as a science and the art of justice.

Right

Conforming with or conformable to justice, law, or morality
Do the right thing and confess.

Law

A rule of conduct or procedure established by custom, agreement, or authority.

Right

In accordance with fact, reason, or truth; correct
The right answer.

Law

The body of rules and principles governing the affairs of a community and enforced by a political authority; a legal system
International law.
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Right

Fitting, proper, or appropriate
It is not right to leave the party without saying goodbye.

Law

The condition of social order and justice created by adherence to such a system
A breakdown of law and civilized behavior.

Right

Most favorable, desirable, or convenient
The right time to act.

Law

A set of rules or principles dealing with a specific area of a legal system
Tax law.
Criminal law.

Right

In or into a satisfactory state or condition
Put things right.
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Law

A statute, ordinance, or other rule enacted by a legislature.

Right

In good mental or physical health or order.

Law

A judicially established legal requirement; a precedent.

Right

Intended to be worn or positioned facing outward or toward an observer
The right side of the dress.
Made sure that the right side of the fabric was visible.

Law

The system of judicial administration giving effect to the laws of a community
All citizens are equal before the law.

Right

Of, belonging to, located on, or being the side of the body to the south when the subject is facing east.

Law

Legal action or proceedings; litigation
Submit a dispute to law.

Right

Of, relating to, directed toward, or located on the right side.

Law

An impromptu or extralegal system of justice substituted for established judicial procedure
Frontier law.

Right

Located on the right side of a person facing downstream
The right bank of a river.

Law

An agency or agent responsible for enforcing the law. Often used with the
"The law ... stormed out of the woods as the vessel was being relieved of her cargo" (Sid Moody).

Right

Often Right Of or belonging to the political or intellectual right.

Law

(Informal) A police officer. Often used with the.

Right

Formed by or in reference to a line or plane that is perpendicular to another line or plane.

Law

The science and study of law; jurisprudence.

Right

Having the axis perpendicular to the base
Right cone.

Law

Knowledge of law.

Right

Having a right angle
A right triangle.

Law

The profession of an attorney.

Right

Straight; uncurved; direct
A right line.

Law

Something, such as an order or a dictum, having absolute or unquestioned authority
The commander's word was law.

Right

(Archaic) Not spurious; genuine.

Law

A body of principles or precepts held to express the divine will, especially as revealed in the Bible.

Right

That which is just, moral, or proper.

Law

The first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures.

Right

The direction or position on the right side.

Law

A code of principles based on morality, conscience, or nature.

Right

The right side.

Law

A rule or custom generally established in a particular domain
The unwritten laws of good sportsmanship.

Right

The right hand.

Law

A way of life
The law of the jungle.

Right

A turn in the direction of the right hand or side.

Law

A statement describing a relationship observed to be invariable between or among phenomena for all cases in which the specified conditions are met
The law of gravity.

Right

The people and groups who advocate the adoption of conservative or reactionary measures, especially in government and politics. Also called right wing.

Law

A generalization based on consistent experience or results
The law of supply and demand.

Right

The opinion of those advocating such measures.

Law

(Mathematics) A general principle or rule that is assumed or that has been proven to hold between expressions.

Right

(Sports) A blow delivered by a boxer's right hand.

Law

A principle of organization, procedure, or technique
The laws of grammar.
The laws of visual perspective.

Right

(Baseball) Right field.

Law

(usually with "the") The body of binding rules and regulations, customs, and standards established in a community by its legislative and judicial authorities.
The courts interpret the law but should not make it.
In theory, entrapment is against the law.

Right

A just or legal claim or title.

Law

The body of such rules that pertain to a particular topic.
Property law
Commercial hunting and fishing law

Right

Something that is due to a person or governmental body by law, tradition, or nature.

Law

Common law, as contrasted with equity.

Right

Something, especially humane treatment, claimed to be due to animals by moral principle.

Law

A binding regulation or custom established in a community in this way.
There is a law against importing wallabies.
A new law forbids driving on that road.
The court ruled that the executive order was not law and nullified it.

Right

An existing stockholder's legally protected claim to purchase additional shares in a corporation ahead of those who are not currently stockholders, especially at a cost lower than market value.

Law

(more generally) A rule, such as:

Right

The negotiable paper on which such an entitlement is indicated.

Law

Any rule that must or should be obeyed, concerning behaviours and their consequences. mores.}}
"Do unto others as you wish them to do unto you" is a good law to follow.
The law of self-preservation

Right

Toward or on the right.

Law

A rule or principle regarding the construction of language or art.
The laws of playwriting and poetry

Right

In a straight line; directly
Went right to school.

Law

A statement (in physics, etc) of an (observed, established) order or sequence or relationship of phenomena which is invariable under certain conditions. theory.}}
The laws of thermodynamics
Newton's third law of motion states that to every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction.
This is one of several laws derived from his general theory expounded in the Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica.

Right

In the proper or desired manner; well
The jacket doesn't fit right.

Law

A statement (of relation) that is true under specified conditions; a mathematical or logical rule.
Mathematical laws can be proved purely through mathematics, without scientific experimentation.

Right

Exactly; just
The accident happened right over there.

Law

Any statement of the relation of acts and conditions to their consequences.
The law of scarcity
The law of supply and demand

Right

Immediately
Called me right after dinner.

Law

(linguistics) A sound law; a regular change in the pronunciation of a language.
Grimm's law
Dahl's law

Right

Completely; quite
The icy wind blew right through me.

Law

(cricket) One of the official rules of cricket as codified by the its (former) governing body, the MCC.

Right

According to law, morality, or justice.

Law

The control and order brought about by the observance of such rules.
They worked to maintain law and order.
It was a territory without law, marked by violence.

Right

Accurately; correctly
Answered the question right.

Law

(informal) A person or group that act(s) with authority to uphold such rules and order (for example, one or more police officers).
Here comes the law — run!
Then the law arrived on the scene

Right

Chiefly Southern US Considerably; very
They have a right nice place.

Law

The profession that deals with such rules (as lawyers, judges, police officers, etc).
He is studying for a career in law.
She has practiced law in New York for twenty years.

Right

Used as an intensive
Kept right on going.

Law

Jurisprudence, the field of knowledge which encompasses these rules.
She went to university to study law.

Right

Used in titles
The Right Reverend Jane Smith.

Law

Litigation; legal action (as a means of maintaining or restoring order, redressing wrongs, etc).
They were quick to go to law.

Right

To put in or restore to an upright or proper position
They righted their boat.

Law

An allowance of distance or time (a head start) given to a weaker (human or animal) competitor in a race, to make the race more fair.

Right

To put in order or set right; correct
Measures designed to right generations of unfair labor practices.

Law

(aviation) A mode of operation of the flight controls of a fly-by-wire aircraft.
Normal law; alternate law; direct law

Right

To make reparation or amends for; redress
Right a wrong.

Law

(fantasy) One of two metaphysical forces ruling the world in some fantasy settings, also called order, and opposed to chaos.

Right

To regain an upright or proper position.

Law

An oath sworn before a court, especially disclaiming a debt. wager of law", "wage one's law", "perform one's law", "lose one's law".}}

Right

(archaic) Straight, not bent.
A right line

Law

(obsolete) A tumulus of stones.

Right

(geometry) Of an angle, having a size of 90 degrees, or one quarter of a complete rotation; the angle between two perpendicular lines.
The kitchen counter formed a right angle with the back wall.

Law

A hill.

Right

(geometry) Of a geometric figure, incorporating a right angle between edges, faces, axes, etc.
A right triangle, a right prism, a right cone

Law

A score; share of expense; legal charge.

Right

Complying with justice, correctness or reason; correct, just, true.
I thought you'd made a mistake, but it seems you were right all along.
It's not right that one person gets all the credit for the group's work.

Law

(obsolete) To work as a lawyer; to practice law.

Right

Appropriate, perfectly suitable; fit for purpose.
Is this the right software for my computer?

Law

To prosecute or sue (someone), to litigate.

Right

Healthy, sane, competent.
I'm afraid my father is no longer in his right mind.

Law

(nonstandard) To rule over (with a certain effect) by law; to govern.

Right

Real; veritable (used emphatically).
You've made a right mess of the kitchen!

Law

(informal) To enforce the law.

Right

(Australia) All right; not requiring assistance.

Law

To subject to legal restrictions.

Right

(dated) Most favourable or convenient; fortunate.

Law

(dated) An exclamation of mild surprise; lawks.

Right

Designating the side of the body which is positioned to the east if one is facing north. This arrow points to the reader's right: →
After the accident, her right leg was slightly shorter than her left.

Law

In general, a rule of being or of conduct, established by an authority able to enforce its will; a controlling regulation; the mode or order according to which an agent or a power acts.
These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the Lord made.
The law of thy God, and the law of the King.
As if they would confine the Interminable . . . Who made our laws to bind us, not himself.
His mind his kingdom, and his will his law.

Right

(geography) Designating the bank of a river (etc.) on one's right when facing downstream (i.e. facing forward while floating with the current); that is, the south bank of a river that flows eastward. If this arrow: ⥴ shows the direction of the current, the tilde is on the right side of the river.

Law

In morals: The will of God as the rule for the disposition and conduct of all responsible beings toward him and toward each other; a rule of living, conformable to righteousness; the rule of action as obligatory on the conscience or moral nature.

Right

Designed to be placed or worn outward.
The right side of a piece of cloth

Law

The Jewish or Mosaic code, and that part of Scripture where it is written, in distinction from the gospel; hence, also, the Old Testament.
What things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law . . . But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.

Right

(politics) Pertaining to the political right; conservative.

Law

An organic rule, as a constitution or charter, establishing and defining the conditions of the existence of a state or other organized community.

Right

On the right side.

Law

In philosophy and physics: A rule of being, operation, or change, so certain and constant that it is conceived of as imposed by the will of God or by some controlling authority; as, the law of gravitation; the laws of motion; the law heredity; the laws of thought; the laws of cause and effect; law of self-preservation.

Right

Towards the right side.

Law

In mathematics: The rule according to which anything, as the change of value of a variable, or the value of the terms of a series, proceeds; mode or order of sequence.

Right

Exactly, precisely.
The arrow landed right in the middle of the target.
Luckily we arrived right at the start of the film.

Law

In arts, works, games, etc.: The rules of construction, or of procedure, conforming to the conditions of success; a principle, maxim; or usage; as, the laws of poetry, of architecture, of courtesy, or of whist.

Right

Immediately, directly.
Can't you see it? It's right beside you!
Tom was standing right in front of the TV, blocking everyone's view.

Law

Collectively, the whole body of rules relating to one subject, or emanating from one source; - including usually the writings pertaining to them, and judicial proceedings under them; as, divine law; English law; Roman law; the law of real property; insurance law.

Right

Very, extremely, quite.
I made a right stupid mistake there, didn't I?
I stubbed my toe a week ago and it still hurts right much.

Law

Legal science; jurisprudence; the principles of equity; applied justice.
Reason is the life of the law; nay, the common law itself is nothing else but reason.
Law is beneficence acting by rule.
And sovereign Law, that state's collected willO'er thrones and globes elate,Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill.

Right

According to fact or truth; actually; truly; really.

Law

Trial by the laws of the land; judicial remedy; litigation; as, to go law.
When every case in law is right.
He found law dear and left it cheap.

Right

In a correct manner.
Do it right or don't do it at all.

Law

An oath, as in the presence of a court.

Right

To a great extent or degree.
Sir, I am right glad to meet you …
Members of the Queen's Privy Council are styled The Right Honourable for life.
The Right Reverend Monsignor Guido Sarducci.

Law

An exclamation of mild surprise.

Right

Yes, that is correct; I agree.

Law

Legal document setting forth rules governing a particular kind of activity;
There is a law against kidnapping

Right

I agree with whatever you say; I have no opinion.

Law

The collection of rules imposed by authority;
Civilization presupposes respect for the law
The great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order

Right

Signpost word to change the subject in a discussion or discourse.
- After that interview, I don't think we should hire her.
- Right — who wants lunch?

Law

A generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature;
The laws of thermodynamics

Right

Used to check agreement at the end of an utterance.
You're going, right?

Law

A rule or body of rules of conduct inherent in human nature and essential to or binding upon human society

Right

Used to add seriousness or decisiveness before a statement.

Law

The learned profession that is mastered by graduate study in a law school and that is responsible for the judicial system;
He studied law at Yale

Right

That which complies with justice, law or reason.
We're on the side of right in this contest.

Law

The force of policemen and officers;
The law came looking for him

Right

A legal, just or moral entitlement.
You have no right to go through my personal diary.

Law

The branch of philosophy concerned with the law and the principles that lead courts to make the decisions they do

Right

The right side or direction.
The pharmacy is just on the right past the bookshop.

Right

The right hand or fist.

Right

The authority to perform, publish, film, or televise a particular work, event, etc.; a copyright.

Right

(politics) The ensemble of right-wing political parties; political conservatives as a group.
The political right holds too much power.

Right

The outward or most finished surface, as of a coin, piece of cloth, a carpet, etc.

Right

(surfing) A wave breaking from right to left (viewed from the shore).

Right

(transitive) To correct.
Righting all the wrongs of the war immediately will be impossible.

Right

(transitive) To set upright.
The tow-truck righted what was left of the automobile.

Right

(intransitive) To return to normal upright position.
When the wind died down, the ship righted.

Right

(transitive) To do justice to; to relieve from wrong; to restore rights to; to assert or regain the rights of.
To right the oppressed

Right

Straight; direct; not crooked; as, a right line.

Right

Upright; erect from a base; having an upright axis; not oblique; as, right ascension; a right pyramid or cone.

Right

Fit; suitable; proper; correct; becoming; as, the right man in the right place; the right way from London to Oxford.

Right

Conformed to the constitution of man and the will of God, or to justice and equity; not deviating from the true and just; according with truth and duty; just; true.
That which is conformable to the Supreme Rule is absolutely right, and is called right simply without relation to a special end.

Right

Characterized by reality or genuineness; real; actual; not spurious.
In this battle, . . . the Britons never more plainly manifested themselves to be right barbarians.

Right

According with truth; passing a true judgment; conforming to fact or intent; not mistaken or wrong; not erroneous; correct; as, this is the right faith.
You are right, Justice, and you weigh this well.
If there be no prospect beyond the grave, the inference is . . . right, "Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die."

Right

Most favorable or convenient; fortunate.
The lady has been disappointed on the right side.

Right

Of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which the muscular action is usually stronger than on the other side; - opposed to left when used in reference to a part of the body; as, the right side, hand, arm. Also applied to the corresponding side of the lower animals.
Became the sovereign's favorite, his right hand.

Right

Well placed, disposed, or adjusted; orderly; well regulated; correctly done.

Right

Designed to be placed or worn outward; as, the right side of a piece of cloth.
"Right," cries his lordship.

Right

In a right manner.

Right

In a right or straight line; directly; hence; straightway; immediately; next; as, he stood right before me; it went right to the mark; he came right out; he followed right after the guide.
Unto Dian's temple goeth she right.
Let thine eyes look right on.
Right across its track there lay,Down in the water, a long reef of gold.

Right

Exactly; just.
Came he right now to sing a raven's note?

Right

According to the law or will of God; conforming to the standard of truth and justice; righteously; as, to live right; to judge right.

Right

According to any rule of art; correctly.
You with strict discipline instructed right.

Right

According to fact or truth; actually; truly; really; correctly; exactly; as, to tell a story right.
Right as it were a steed of Lumbardye.
His wounds so smarted that he slept right naught.

Right

In a great degree; very; wholly; unqualifiedly; extremely; highly; as, right humble; right noble; right valiant.
For which I should be right sorry.
[I] return those duties back as are right fit.

Right

That which is right or correct.
Seldom your opinions err;Your eyes are always in the right.

Right

A just judgment or action; that which is true or proper; justice; uprightness; integrity.
Long love to her has borne the faithful knight,And well deserved, had fortune done him right.

Right

That to which one has a just claim.
There are no rights whatever, without corresponding duties.

Right

That which one has a legal or social claim to do or to exact; legal power; authority; as, a sheriff has a right to arrest a criminal.
Born free, he sought his right.
Hast thou not right to all created things?
Men have no right to what is not reasonable.

Right

The right side; the side opposite to the left.
Led her to the Souldan's right.

Right

Privilege or immunity granted by authority.

Right

In some legislative bodies of Europe (as in France), those members collectively who are conservatives or monarchists. See Center, 5.

Right

The outward or most finished surface, as of a piece of cloth, a carpet, etc.
He should himself use it by right.
I should have been a woman by right.

Right

To bring or restore to the proper or natural position; to set upright; to make right or straight (that which has been wrong or crooked); to correct.

Right

To do justice to; to relieve from wrong; to restore rights to; to assert or regain the rights of; as, to right the oppressed; to right one's self; also, to vindicate.
So just is God, to right the innocent.
All experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

Right

To recover the proper or natural condition or position; to become upright.

Right

Hence, to regain an upright position, as a ship or boat, after careening.

Right

An abstract idea of that which is due to a person or governmental body by law or tradition or nature;
They are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights
Certain rights can never be granted to the government but must be kept in the hands of the people
A right is not something that somebody gives you; it is something that nobody can take away

Right

(frequently plural) the interest possessed by law or custom in some intangible thing;
Mineral rights
Film rights

Right

Location near or direction toward the right side; i.e. the side to the south when a person or object faces east;
He stood on the right

Right

A turn to the right;
Take a right at the corner

Right

Those who support political or social or economic conservatism; those who believe that things are better left unchanged

Right

Anything in accord with principles of justice;
He feels he is in the right
The rightfulness of his claim

Right

The hand that is on the right side of the body;
He writes with his right hand but pitches with his left
Hit him with quick rights to the body

Right

The piece of ground in the outfield on the catcher's right

Right

Make reparations or amends for;
Right a wrongs done to the victims of the Holocaust

Right

Put in or restore to an upright position;
They righted the sailboat that had capsized

Right

Regain an upright or proper position;
The capsized boat righted again

Right

Make right or correct;
Correct the mistakes
Rectify the calculation

Right

Free from error; especially conforming to fact or truth;
The correct answer
The correct version
The right answer
Took the right road
The right decision

Right

Being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the east when facing north;
My right hand
Right center field
A right-hand turn
The right bank of a river is the bank on your right side when you are facing downstream

Right

Socially right or correct;
It isn't right to leave the party without saying goodbye
Correct behavior

Right

In conformance with justice or law or morality;
Do the right thing and confess

Right

Correct in opinion or judgment;
Time proved him right

Right

Appropriate for a condition or occasion;
Everything in its proper place
The right man for the job
She is not suitable for the position

Right

Of or belonging to the political or intellectual left

Right

In or into a satisfactory condition;
Things are right again now
Put things right

Right

Intended for the right hand;
A right-hand glove

Right

In accord with accepted standards of usage or procedure;
What's the right word for this?
The right way to open oysters

Right

Having the axis perpendicular to the base;
A right angle

Right

Of the side of cloth or clothing intended to face outward;
The right side of the cloth showed the pattern
Be sure your shirt is right side out

Right

Most suitable or right for a particular purpose;
A good time to plant tomatoes
The right time to act
The time is ripe for great sociological changes

Right

Precisely, exactly;
Stand right here!

Right

Immediately;
She called right after dinner

Right

Exactly;
He fell flop on his face

Right

Toward or on the right; also used figuratively;
He looked right and left
The party has moved right

Right

In the right manner;
Please do your job properly!
Can't you carry me decent?

Right

An interjection expressing agreement

Right

Completely;
She felt right at home
He fell right into the trap

Right

(Southern regional intensive) very;
The baby is mighty cute
He's mighty tired
It is powerful humid
That boy is powerful big now
They have a right nice place

Right

In accordance with moral or social standards;
That serves him right
Do right by him

Right

In a correct manner;
He guessed right

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