COLOUR OF LAW

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

Meaning:

A mere semblance of legal right; something done with the apparent authority of law but actually in contravention of law

Example:

the plaintiff claimed that under color of law the officer had deprived him of his civil rights

Synonyms:

color of law; colour of law

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("colour of law" is a kind of...):

color; colour; gloss; semblance (an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)