law-abidingˈlaw-aˌbiding adjective 
a law-abiding citizen
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- There is a tendency to look back at a time when people were more peaceful and law-abiding.
- These men are all decent, tax-paying, law-abiding people.
Longman Language Activatoralways doing what you are told to do
someone who is obedient always does what their parents, teachers, or people in authority tell them to do - use this especially about children: · Bruno was a quiet and obedient little boy.· Research shows that pupils who are good at maths tend to be more conformist and obedient than other pupils. obedient to: · The majority of people were obedient to the King, not questioning his government.
obedient behaviour: obedience to: · Young children are expected to show obedience to their parents.absolute/complete/total obedience: · The General demanded absolute obedience from his men.
always obeying the law because you think this is the right thing to do: · These men are all decent, tax-paying, law-abiding people.· There is a tendency to look back at a time when people were more peaceful and law-abiding.
always doing what you are expected to do and always behaving in a loyal and obedient way: · Tom Campbell has been a loyal and dutiful employee of this firm for 25 years.· She rejected the traditional female roles of docile daughter and dutiful wife.
a group of people that is disciplined has developed obedience or has been trained to be obedient: · They are a well-trained, disciplined and efficient fighting force.well-disciplined: · The workforce is well-disciplined and eager to work.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a law-abiding citizenCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
respectful of the law and obeying it: a law-abiding citizen· I am normally a law-abiding citizen but I had not a single scruple.· Those who suffered most, the committee revealed, were the law-abiding citizens.· The majority of people in Oldham are law-abiding citizens.· Eighth Uncle, you know as well as anyone that my brother and I have been honest, law-abiding citizens since childhood.· Once upon a time we were all law-abiding citizens, and now we've got football hooligans.· In future, all movie gays will be law-abiding citizens with healthy relationships, no repressive hang-ups, and a glitter-free wardrobe.· Most law-abiding citizens obeyed it but not so the denizens of the slums, stinking alleys and runnels of Edinburgh.· The five paramilitary officers from the Rathcoole district had each an unblemished record as a law-abiding citizen.
a law-abiding citizen