Cool MateLaw vs Legislation
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Law
FormalTop 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Legislation
FormalTop 3,000 (common)C1noun
Most common: Law
| Law | Legislation | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/lɔː/"]/🇺🇸 /["/lɔː/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌledʒɪsˈleɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌledʒɪsˈleɪʃn/"]/ |
| Meaning | Rules made by a government to keep order. | A set of laws or rules made by a government. |
| Example | The law requires that all drivers have insurance. | The government introduced new legislation to combat climate change. |
| Register | Formal | Formal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | administrative, case, civil, become, apply, enforce, allow something, authorize something, permit something, court, case, suit, above the law, against the law, beyond the law, as the law stands, law and order, the law of the land, administrative, case, civil, become, apply, enforce, allow something, authorize something, permit something, court, case, suit, above the law, against the law, beyond the law, as the law stands, law and order, the law of the land, administrative, case, civil, become, apply, enforce, allow something, authorize something, permit something, court, case, suit, above the law, against the law, beyond the law, as the law stands, law and order, the law of the land, practise/practice, firm, school | federal, national, parliamentary, piece, need, require, call for, come into effect, come into force, allow something, under legislation, legislation against, legislation on, federal, national, parliamentary, piece, need, require, call for, come into effect, come into force, allow something, under legislation, legislation against, legislation on |
| Antonyms | anarchy, chaos | anarchy, chaos, lawlessness |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'lawsuit' — remember 'law' is a set of rules, while 'lawsuit' refers to a legal case., 'Law' vs. 'rule' — 'law' is official, while a 'rule' can be informal or less strict. | Confused with 'legislature' which refers to the body that makes laws., Using 'legislation' as a countable noun (it is uncountable)., Confusing 'legislation' with general rules or policies. |
| Usage notes | Use 'law' in formal contexts when discussing legal matters. Avoid in casual conversations unless relevant to the topic. | Commonly used in legal contexts and formal discussions. Avoid using in casual conversations. Often associated with political processes. |
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Frequently asked questions: Law vs Legislation
What's the difference between Law and Legislation?
Law: Rules made by a government to keep order. Legislation: A set of laws or rules made by a government.
Which is more common: Law and Legislation?
Law is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Law and Legislation?
Legislation is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Law and Legislation the same CEFR level?
Law: A2, Legislation: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Law and Legislation?
Law: noun, Legislation: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Law: The law requires that all drivers have insurance. Legislation: The government introduced new legislation to combat climate change.
Can I use Law and Legislation interchangeably?
Not always. Law and Legislation are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.