not contrary to law

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not contrary to law" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe a situation or action that is in compliance with the law. For example, "All of the company's business practices are not contrary to law."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But the refusal to process Mr. Bean's application, he continued, "was not contrary to law, it was compelled by law".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

If that was the case, then the appeal court's decision was not contrary to the law — but a decision upholding the acquittal would not have been contrary to the law, either.

SEP

When Islamic parties won recent elections in Egypt and Tunisia, they promised to write new constitutions that respect international human rights — as long as those rights are not contrary to Islamic law.

The New York Times - Books

In the wake of the International Court of Justice's recent opinion that Kosovo's declaration of independence was not contrary to international law, Serbia has tabled a resolution at the UN General Assembly for September 9th, calling for fresh talks on the issue.

The Economist

Specifically, it covers those actions that are not contrary to the law of nature.

SEP

His critique is in effect internal, drawing upon the logic of Christian thought itself to suggest that suicide is not contrary to the laws of nature, of reason, or of God.

SEP

Venette went on to argue that for similar reasons, 'When a Man is too heavy, and the Woman extreamly tender, I am of Opinion that 'tis not contrary to the Laws of Nature to Caress sideways in imitation of Foxes' because 'One may by this Posture avoid all the Accidents a tender Woman is exposed to in the common Situation, and no Suffocations or Miscarriages ever happen thereupon'.

Historical Research

Citigroup and J.P. Morgan Chase executives "did not act contrary to law" in calling U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve Bank officials about Enron and its credit rating.

Forbes

Michigan] and Solem specifically stated that they did not overrule Rummel, it was not contrary to our clearly established law for the California Court of Appeal to turn to Rummel in deciding whether a sentence is grossly disproportionate.

The New York Times

Because of this, it's very important that I monitor Spencer's social media to ensure his replies and statements are not contrary to what a responsible law-abiding adult would possibly advise, even though he is a teen himself.

Huffington Post

He sued to get his job back but lost, and the court of appeals in Colorado (where, as you're probably aware, pot is legal) recently upheld the ruling, stating, "For an activity to be lawful in Colorado, it must be permitted by, and not contrary to, both state and federal law".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not contrary to law" to clearly state that an action, decision, or regulation does not violate any existing legal statutes. It's particularly useful in legal and formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid assuming that because something is "not contrary to law", it is necessarily required or endorsed by the law. The phrase simply indicates permissibility, not obligation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not contrary to law" functions as a predicate adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun by asserting that it doesn't violate or conflict with existing laws. According to Ludwig, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

32%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not contrary to law" is a phrase used to describe actions or regulations that comply with existing legal statutes. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It's commonly found in news reports, scientific discussions, and formal documents. While similar phrases like "lawful" or "legal" exist, "not contrary to law" offers a specific, affirmative assurance of legal permissibility. Remember that something being "not contrary to law" doesn't automatically mean it is required or endorsed by law, but simply that it's legally permissible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in accordance with the law

This alternative emphasizes adherence to legal requirements.

not in violation of the law

This alternative directly states the absence of legal transgression.

consistent with the law

This focuses on the alignment and lack of conflict with existing laws.

compliant with the law

Highlights the action of following and meeting legal standards.

within the bounds of the law

Indicates that actions remain inside the permitted legal limits.

permitted by law

Focuses on explicit legal authorization.

lawful

A simple adjective denoting adherence to the law.

legal

Another simple adjective, indicating something is permitted by law.

authorized by law

Emphasizes that the law specifically grants permission.

legitimate

Suggests that something is in accordance with established rules, principles, or standards.

FAQs

How can I use "not contrary to law" in a sentence?

You can use "not contrary to law" to describe actions or regulations that do not violate any existing legal statutes. For example: 'The company's business practices are "not contrary to law".'

What is a simple way of saying "not contrary to law"?

A simpler way to express "not contrary to law" is to use words like "lawful" or "legal". However, "not contrary to law" is more precise in legal contexts.

Which is correct, "not contrary to law" or "not against the law"?

Both phrases are generally correct, but "not contrary to law" is more formal and often preferred in legal writing. "Not against the law" is more common in everyday speech.

What does it mean if something is considered "not contrary to international law"?

If something is considered "not contrary to international law", it means that it doesn't violate any international treaties, customs, or general principles recognized by the community of nations.