color of law

noun

A mere semblance of legal right; a means to do something with the apparent authority of law but actually in contravention of law.

“The plaintiff claimed that under color of law the officer had deprived him of his civil rights.”

Similar
colour of law
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nouncolor of law (uncountable)
  1. USuncountablelawA mere semblance of legal right; a means to do something with the apparent authority of law but actually in contravention of law.

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

Synonyms & antonyms

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

Similar
colour of law
Broader
semblanceglosscolor

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 表面合法的權力 /表面合法的权力
  • 表面合法的權力 /表面合法的权力 (biǎomiàn héfǎ de quánlì)mere semblance of legal right
Finnish lain varjo
  • lain varjomere semblance of legal right
Malay kuasa perundangan
  • kuasa perundanganmere semblance of legal right
Cite this entry
APA

color of law. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/color%20of%20law

MLA

“color of law.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/color%20of%20law. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “color of law,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/color%20of%20law.

Source: color of law on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.