Theory vs. Law — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on November 2, 2023
A theory is a well-substantiated explanation; a law is a statement of what always happens, often expressed mathematically.
Difference Between Theory and Law
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The term "theory" refers to a comprehensive explanation of some aspect of nature that is supported by a vast body of evidence. It allows scientists to make predictions about new situations. The word "law," however, describes a statement based on repeated experimental observations that describes some phenomena of nature.
A scientific theory is not a ‘guess’ but a substantiated explanation for observations. It's formulated through rigorous testing and refinement of hypotheses. Scientific laws, on the other hand, are concise descriptions of parts of the world that are invariably consistent under specific conditions, often articulated through a mathematical framework.
Theories provide the overarching principles that explain and connect facts. For instance, the theory of evolution explains the diversity of life. Laws, such as Newton’s laws of motion, offer a clear and predictive framework for how elements of nature will behave under certain conditions, but they do not explain why things happen.
A theory can never become a law, even if it is widely accepted and long-lasting. This is because theories and laws serve different purposes. Theories are the framework for understanding how things work and why they happen, whereas laws are the rules that nature always follows.
In science, theories and laws coexist, each serving a unique role. Theories are the explanations of the natural world that are continually tested and refined, and laws are the rules that describe the patterns observed in nature, typically without exceptions as long as the conditions are consistent.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A comprehensive explanation of phenomena based on evidence.
A description of how phenomena occur under certain conditions.
Expression
Often qualitative; descriptive.
Often quantitative; expressed through formulas.
Purpose
To explain why and how something happens.
To describe what happens with consistency.
Flexibility
Can be updated or changed with new evidence.
Rarely changes; considered universally consistent.
Examples
Theory of Relativity, Germ Theory.
Law of Gravity, Boyle’s Law.
Compare with Definitions
Theory
A theory is a hypothesis that has been widely tested and accepted.
Darwin's theory of natural selection has been fundamental to evolutionary biology.
Law
A law is a body of rules and principles governing the affairs of a community and enforced by a political authority.
International law governs the relations between sovereign nations.
Theory
A theory is a set of principles on which the practice of an activity is based.
Music theory is essential for anyone learning to compose or perform music.
Law
A law is a scientific generalization based on empirical observations of physical behavior.
Hooke’s law states that the force needed to extend or compress a spring by some distance is proportional to that distance.
Theory
A theory is an idea or set of ideas that is intended to explain facts or events.
The big bang theory proposes that the universe began from a single point.
Law
A law is a statement of fact, deduced from observation, to the effect that a particular natural or scientific phenomenon always occurs if certain conditions are present.
The law of conservation of energy indicates that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
Theory
A theory is a rational type of abstract thinking about a phenomenon, or the results of such thinking. The process of contemplative and rational thinking is often associated with such processes as observational study or research.
Law
Law is a system of rules created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior, with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been variously described as a science and the art of justice.
Theory
A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.
Law
A rule of conduct or procedure established by custom, agreement, or authority.
Theory
The branch of a science or art consisting of its explanatory statements, accepted principles, and methods of analysis, as opposed to practice
A fine musician who had never studied theory.
Law
The body of rules and principles governing the affairs of a community and enforced by a political authority; a legal system
International law.
Theory
A set of theorems that constitute a systematic view of a branch of mathematics.
Law
The condition of social order and justice created by adherence to such a system
A breakdown of law and civilized behavior.
Theory
Abstract reasoning; speculation
A decision based on experience rather than theory.
Law
A set of rules or principles dealing with a specific area of a legal system
Tax law.
Criminal law.
Theory
A belief or principle that guides action or assists comprehension or judgment
Staked out the house on the theory that criminals usually return to the scene of the crime.
Law
A statute, ordinance, or other rule enacted by a legislature.
Theory
An assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture.
Law
A judicially established legal requirement; a precedent.
Theory
A description of an event or system that is considered to be accurate.
Law
The system of judicial administration giving effect to the laws of a community
All citizens are equal before the law.
Theory
(sciences) A coherent statement or set of ideas that explains observed facts or phenomena and correctly predicts new facts or phenomena not previously observed, or which sets out the laws and principles of something known or observed; a hypothesis confirmed by observation, experiment etc.
Law
Legal action or proceedings; litigation
Submit a dispute to law.
Theory
(uncountable) The underlying principles or methods of a given technical skill, art etc., as opposed to its practice.
Law
An impromptu or extralegal system of justice substituted for established judicial procedure
Frontier law.
Theory
(mathematics) A field of study attempting to exhaustively describe a particular class of constructs.
Knot theory classifies the mappings of a circle into 3-space.
Law
An agency or agent responsible for enforcing the law. Often used with the
"The law ... stormed out of the woods as the vessel was being relieved of her cargo" (Sid Moody).
Theory
A hypothesis or conjecture.
Law
(Informal) A police officer. Often used with the.
Theory
A set of axioms together with all statements derivable from them; or, a set of statements which are deductively closed. Equivalently, a formal language plus a set of axioms (from which can then be derived theorems). The statements may be required to all be bound (i.e., to have no free variables).
A theory is consistent if it has a model.
Law
The science and study of law; jurisprudence.
Theory
A doctrine, or scheme of things, which terminates in speculation or contemplation, without a view to practice; hypothesis; speculation.
Law
Knowledge of law.
Theory
An exposition of the general or abstract principles of any science; as, the theory of music.
Law
The profession of an attorney.
Theory
The science, as distinguished from the art; as, the theory and practice of medicine.
Law
Something, such as an order or a dictum, having absolute or unquestioned authority
The commander's word was law.
Theory
The philosophical explanation of phenomena, either physical or moral; as, Lavoisier's theory of combustion; Adam Smith's theory of moral sentiments.
Law
A body of principles or precepts held to express the divine will, especially as revealed in the Bible.
Theory
A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena;
Theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses
True in fact and theory
Law
The first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Theory
A tentative theory about the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena;
A scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory
He proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices
Law
A code of principles based on morality, conscience, or nature.
Theory
A belief that can guide behavior;
The architect has a theory that more is less
They killed him on the theory that dead men tell no tales
Law
A rule or custom generally established in a particular domain
The unwritten laws of good sportsmanship.
Theory
A theory is a system of ideas intended to explain something.
The quantum theory provides a framework for understanding the physical universe at the smallest scales.
Law
A way of life
The law of the jungle.
Theory
A theory is an abstract thought or speculation.
My theory is that he never intended to do the work properly.
Law
A statement describing a relationship observed to be invariable between or among phenomena for all cases in which the specified conditions are met
The law of gravity.
Law
A generalization based on consistent experience or results
The law of supply and demand.
Law
(Mathematics) A general principle or rule that is assumed or that has been proven to hold between expressions.
Law
A principle of organization, procedure, or technique
The laws of grammar.
The laws of visual perspective.
Law
(usually with "the") The body of binding rules and regulations, customs, and standards established in a community by its legislative and judicial authorities.
The courts interpret the law but should not make it.
In theory, entrapment is against the law.
Law
The body of such rules that pertain to a particular topic.
Property law
Commercial hunting and fishing law
Law
Common law, as contrasted with equity.
Law
A binding regulation or custom established in a community in this way.
There is a law against importing wallabies.
A new law forbids driving on that road.
The court ruled that the executive order was not law and nullified it.
Law
(more generally) A rule, such as:
Law
Any rule that must or should be obeyed, concerning behaviours and their consequences. mores.}}
"Do unto others as you wish them to do unto you" is a good law to follow.
The law of self-preservation
Law
A rule or principle regarding the construction of language or art.
The laws of playwriting and poetry
Law
A statement (in physics, etc) of an (observed, established) order or sequence or relationship of phenomena which is invariable under certain conditions. theory.}}
The laws of thermodynamics
Newton's third law of motion states that to every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction.
This is one of several laws derived from his general theory expounded in the Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica.
Law
A statement (of relation) that is true under specified conditions; a mathematical or logical rule.
Mathematical laws can be proved purely through mathematics, without scientific experimentation.
Law
Any statement of the relation of acts and conditions to their consequences.
The law of scarcity
The law of supply and demand
Law
(linguistics) A sound law; a regular change in the pronunciation of a language.
Grimm's law
Dahl's law
Law
(cricket) One of the official rules of cricket as codified by the its (former) governing body, the MCC.
Law
The control and order brought about by the observance of such rules.
They worked to maintain law and order.
It was a territory without law, marked by violence.
Law
(informal) A person or group that act(s) with authority to uphold such rules and order (for example, one or more police officers).
Here comes the law — run!
Then the law arrived on the scene
Law
The profession that deals with such rules (as lawyers, judges, police officers, etc).
He is studying for a career in law.
She has practiced law in New York for twenty years.
Law
Jurisprudence, the field of knowledge which encompasses these rules.
She went to university to study law.
Law
Litigation; legal action (as a means of maintaining or restoring order, redressing wrongs, etc).
They were quick to go to law.
Law
An allowance of distance or time (a head start) given to a weaker (human or animal) competitor in a race, to make the race more fair.
Law
(aviation) A mode of operation of the flight controls of a fly-by-wire aircraft.
Normal law; alternate law; direct law
Law
(fantasy) One of two metaphysical forces ruling the world in some fantasy settings, also called order, and opposed to chaos.
Law
An oath sworn before a court, especially disclaiming a debt. wager of law", "wage one's law", "perform one's law", "lose one's law".}}
Law
(obsolete) A tumulus of stones.
Law
A hill.
Law
A score; share of expense; legal charge.
Law
(obsolete) To work as a lawyer; to practice law.
Law
To prosecute or sue (someone), to litigate.
Law
(nonstandard) To rule over (with a certain effect) by law; to govern.
Law
(informal) To enforce the law.
Law
To subject to legal restrictions.
Law
(dated) An exclamation of mild surprise; lawks.
Law
In general, a rule of being or of conduct, established by an authority able to enforce its will; a controlling regulation; the mode or order according to which an agent or a power acts.
These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the Lord made.
The law of thy God, and the law of the King.
As if they would confine the Interminable . . . Who made our laws to bind us, not himself.
His mind his kingdom, and his will his law.
Law
In morals: The will of God as the rule for the disposition and conduct of all responsible beings toward him and toward each other; a rule of living, conformable to righteousness; the rule of action as obligatory on the conscience or moral nature.
Law
The Jewish or Mosaic code, and that part of Scripture where it is written, in distinction from the gospel; hence, also, the Old Testament.
What things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law . . . But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.
Law
An organic rule, as a constitution or charter, establishing and defining the conditions of the existence of a state or other organized community.
Law
In philosophy and physics: A rule of being, operation, or change, so certain and constant that it is conceived of as imposed by the will of God or by some controlling authority; as, the law of gravitation; the laws of motion; the law heredity; the laws of thought; the laws of cause and effect; law of self-preservation.
Law
In mathematics: The rule according to which anything, as the change of value of a variable, or the value of the terms of a series, proceeds; mode or order of sequence.
Law
In arts, works, games, etc.: The rules of construction, or of procedure, conforming to the conditions of success; a principle, maxim; or usage; as, the laws of poetry, of architecture, of courtesy, or of whist.
Law
Collectively, the whole body of rules relating to one subject, or emanating from one source; - including usually the writings pertaining to them, and judicial proceedings under them; as, divine law; English law; Roman law; the law of real property; insurance law.
Law
Legal science; jurisprudence; the principles of equity; applied justice.
Reason is the life of the law; nay, the common law itself is nothing else but reason.
Law is beneficence acting by rule.
And sovereign Law, that state's collected willO'er thrones and globes elate,Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill.
Law
Trial by the laws of the land; judicial remedy; litigation; as, to go law.
When every case in law is right.
He found law dear and left it cheap.
Law
An oath, as in the presence of a court.
Law
An exclamation of mild surprise.
Law
Legal document setting forth rules governing a particular kind of activity;
There is a law against kidnapping
Law
The collection of rules imposed by authority;
Civilization presupposes respect for the law
The great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order
Law
A generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature;
The laws of thermodynamics
Law
A rule or body of rules of conduct inherent in human nature and essential to or binding upon human society
Law
The learned profession that is mastered by graduate study in a law school and that is responsible for the judicial system;
He studied law at Yale
Law
The force of policemen and officers;
The law came looking for him
Law
The branch of philosophy concerned with the law and the principles that lead courts to make the decisions they do
Law
A law is a rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding.
The new law prohibits the use of cell phones while driving.
Law
A law is a statement that describes an observable phenomenon or the relationship between phenomena.
Kepler’s law of planetary motion accurately describes the orbit of planets around the sun.
Common Curiosities
Are theories just guesses?
No, theories are well-substantiated explanations based on evidence, not just guesses.
Can a law ever be proven wrong?
If new evidence contradicts a law under the conditions it was supposed to apply, it may be revised or discarded.
Can a theory become a law?
No, a theory does not become a law, as they are distinct concepts with different purposes.
Can anyone create a theory?
Theoretically, yes, but it must be rigorously tested and substantiated by evidence to be scientifically accepted.
Does a theory describe how things work?
Yes, a theory aims to explain how and why processes or phenomena occur.
Can a law explain why something happens?
Laws describe what happens under certain conditions but do not necessarily explain why.
Are laws absolute?
Laws are considered universally consistent under specified conditions, though new discoveries can lead to adjustments.
What happens when a theory is disproven?
If a theory is disproven by evidence, it is either discarded or revised to fit the new information.
Is a law more important than a theory?
Neither is more important; they both are crucial to understanding and explaining the natural world.
Does a theory have to be proven?
A theory must be supported by substantial evidence and survive rigorous testing.
Are scientific laws subject to change?
While scientific laws are stable, they can be redefined if new, contradictory evidence is found.
Are laws always expressed mathematically?
Many scientific laws are expressed mathematically, but not all laws require mathematical expression.
Do all scientific fields use the concept of laws?
Most scientific fields have laws, but they are more common in fields like physics and chemistry.
Is a theory less factual than a law?
A theory is not less factual; it is just more complex and provides a deeper explanation than a law.
Is the theory of gravity just a theory?
While gravity is often referred to as a theory, it is also encompassed by the law of universal gravitation which describes its function.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
