1. A vigorous reprimand
   "I read him the riot act"

1. A former English law requiring mobs to disperse after a magistrate reads the law to them

Derived forms: riot acts

Type of: law, rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval

Part of: criminal law

Encyclopedia: Riot Act

• rear back
• rear lamp
• rear light
• rear of barrel
• rear of tube
• rear window
• rear-end
• rearguard
• rearing
• rearm
• rearmament
• rearmost
• rearrange
• rearrangement
• rearrest
• rearview mirror
• rearward
• rearwards
• reascend
• reason
• reason out
• reasonable
• reasonable care
• reasonableness
• reasonably