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customary law
This term refers to a legal framework derived from long-standing social traditions and communal consensus rather than legislative decrees. It is most frequently encountered in anthropological, sociological, and legal discourses concerning indigenous populations or traditional societies where oral tradition outweighs written codes.
In a legal context, customary law is often contrasted with statutory law. While statutory law is codified and enacted by a governing body, customary law evolves organically through the repeated practice of a community over generations. Because it is based on usage and acceptance, it is often flexible and subject to interpretation by community elders or traditional leaders.
Meanings
A system of law composed of established patterns of behavior and social practices that are accepted as legal requirements within a particular community or culture, rather than being written in formal statutes or legislation.
The indigenous people relied on customary law to resolve land disputes within the village.