law-abiding citizen
law-abiding citizen — noun
1. a person who obeys the law and does not take part in illegal activity
a person who obeys the law and does not take part in illegal activity
A law-abiding citizen reports income honestly and pays taxes on time.
law-abiding citizen + lawful behavior
The new rule should not make life harder for law-abiding citizens.
plural form
She described herself as a law-abiding citizen who had never been arrested.
Most law-abiding citizens expect the police to treat everyone fairly.
- lawful person
less common; can sound more legal or formal
- upright citizen
broader; suggests honest and moral behavior, not only obeying laws
- respectable citizen
focuses on social respectability as well as good behavior
- criminal
someone who has committed a crime
- lawbreaker
someone who breaks the law
文法句型
a law-abiding citizen
law-abiding citizens
用法筆記
Often used in contrast with criminals or people who ignore legal rules. It describes a person's regular behavior, not one specific lawful action.
常見錯誤
Do not say 'law-abiding to the law'. Say 'a law-abiding citizen' or 'a citizen who obeys the law'.
Use 'lawful' for an action that the law allows, and 'law-abiding citizen' for a person who usually follows the law.