COLOUR OF LAW

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does colour of law mean? 

• COLOUR OF LAW (noun)
  The noun COLOUR OF LAW has 1 sense:

1. a mere semblance of legal right; something done with the apparent authority of law but actually in contravention of law

  Familiarity information: COLOUR OF LAW used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COLOUR OF LAW (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A mere semblance of legal right; something done with the apparent authority of law but actually in contravention of law

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

color of law; colour of law

Context example:

the plaintiff claimed that under color of law the officer had deprived him of his civil rights

Hypernyms ("colour of law" is a kind of...):

color; colour; gloss; semblance (an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)