Black's Law Dictionary

Black's Law Dictionary is regarded by many as the definitive legal dictionary for the law of the United States. It was founded by Henry Campbell Black[?]. It has been cited as legal authority in some cases. The latest edition, including abridged and pocket versions, are a useful starting points for the layman or student when faced with a completely unfamiliar word. It is the reference of choice for definitions in legal briefs and court opinions.

The first edition was published in 1891, and the second edition in 1910 long before the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was completed in 1928.

Earlier editions of the book also provided case citations for the term cited, which some lawyers saw as its most useful function, providing a useful starting point with leading cases. At least one reviewer considers the seventh edition of Black's Law Dictionary inferior to the sixth edition. Although he acknowledges that it is an excellent dictionary, he sees the removal of case citations from the text as removing a vital part of the book's function. However, the seventh edition includes actual quotations to many noted legal authorities in various areas of law.

Bibliographic entries

• Bryan A. Garner, editor, Black's Law Dictionary 7th ed, (West Group, 1999) ISBN 0314228640.
• Bryan A. Garner, editor, Black's Law Dictionary abridged pocket ed. (West Group, 1999) ISBN 0314257918

The second edition of Black's Law Dictionary (1910) is presumably now in the public domain. The first edition (1891) has been reprinted by the Law Book Exchange ISBN 0-9630106-0-3, as well as the second edition, ISBN 1-886363-10-2.

Some online legal dictionaries

These dictionaries may be useful in finding the definitions of legal terms that are not otherwise covered in detail, or that are discussed but not defined, here.

• Some links to Legal Dictionaries (http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/dictionary.htm)
• Bouvier's Law Dictionary, 6th ed. (1856) (http://www.constitution.org/bouv/bouvier.htm)
• United States Glossary of immigration law terms (http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/glossary.htm)
• Everybody's Legal Dictionary, Nolo Press (http://www.nolo.com/lawcenter/dictionary/wordindex.cfm)
• International Law dictionary (http://august1.com/pubs/dict/index.shtml)
• Dictionary of Law, Oxford University Press (http://www.xrefer.com/entry.jsp?volid=39)
• Law.com legal dictionary (http://dictionary.law.com)