Civil law is the part of a country's set of laws which is concerned with the private affairs of citizens, for example marriage and property ownership, rather than with crime.
civil law in British English
noun
1.
the law of a state relating to private and civilian affairs
2.
the body of law in force in ancient Rome, esp the law applicable to private citizens
3.
any system of law based on the Roman system as distinguished from the common law and canon law
4.
the law of a state as distinguished from international law
civil law in American English
1.
the body of codified law developed from Roman law and still in force in many European and American nations
see also common law
2.
the body of law that an individual nation or state has established for itself
see also international law
3.
the body of law having to do with the private rights of individuals
Examples of 'civil law' in a sentence
civil law
That was because by then the law on squatting had changed - making it a criminal rather than civil law matter.