Rules vs. Laws — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Rules and Laws
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Compare with Definitions
Rules
Governing power or its possession or use; authority.
Laws
Plural of law
Rules
The duration of such power.
Laws
The police.
Rules
An authoritative, prescribed direction for conduct, especially one of the regulations governing procedure in a legislative body or a regulation observed by the players in a game, sport, or contest.
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Laws
The first five books of the Old Testament, also called The Law and Torah.
Rules
The body of regulations prescribed by the founder of a religious order for governing the conduct of its members.
Laws
The first of three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible considered as a unit
Rules
A usual, customary, or generalized course of action or behavior
"The rule of life in the defense bar ordinarily is to go along and get along" (Scott Turow).
Rules
A generalized statement that describes what is true in most or all cases
In this office, hard work is the rule, not the exception.
Rules
(Mathematics) A standard method or procedure for solving a class of problems.
Rules
A court decision serving as a precedent for subsequent cases
The Miranda rule.
Rules
A legal doctrine or principle.
Rules
A court order.
Rules
A minor regulation or law.
Rules
A statute or regulation governing the court process
Rule of procedure.
Rule of evidence.
Rules
See ruler.
Rules
(Printing) A thin metal strip of various widths and designs, used to print borders or lines, as between columns.
Rules
To exercise control, dominion, or direction over; govern
Rule a kingdom.
Rules
To have a powerful influence over; dominate
"Many found the lanky westerner naive, and supposed that he would be ruled by one of his more commanding cabinet officers" (William Marvel).
Rules
To be a preeminent or dominant factor in
"It was a place where ... middle-class life was ruled by a hankering for all things foreign" (Amitav Ghosh).
Rules
To decide or declare authoritatively or judicially; decree
The judges ruled that the answer was acceptable. The police ruled the death a homicide. The law was ruled unconstitutional.
Rules
To mark with straight parallel lines.
Rules
To mark (a straight line), as with a ruler.
Rules
To be in total control or command; exercise supreme authority.
Rules
To formulate and issue a decree or decision.
Rules
To prevail at a particular level or rate
Prices ruled low.
Rules
(Slang) To be excellent or superior
That new video game rules!.
Rules
Plural of rule
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