hard cases make bad law

proverb

An extreme case is a poor basis for a general law that would cover a wider range of less extreme cases.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

proverb
  1. lawAn extreme case is a poor basis for a general law that would cover a wider range of less extreme cases.
  2. lawA general law is better drafted for the average circumstance.
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“hard cases make bad law.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hard%20cases%20make%20bad%20law. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hard cases make bad law,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hard%20cases%20make%20bad%20law.

Source: hard cases make bad law on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.