Free Download Black 39;s Law Dictionary Pdf

Free Download Black's Law Dictionary PDF

If you are a law student, a lawyer, or anyone interested in the language of law, you might have heard of Black's Law Dictionary. It is the most widely cited law book in the world and the most authoritative, comprehensive law dictionary ever published. But how can you get access to this valuable resource without spending a fortune? In this article, we will tell you what Black's Law Dictionary is, why you need it, and how to download it for free in PDF format.

What is Black's Law Dictionary?

Black's Law Dictionary is a legal dictionary that contains definitions of the terms and phrases of American and English jurisprudence, ancient and modern, as well as the principal terms of international, constitutional, and commercial law. It also includes legal maxims, abbreviations, acronyms, and Latin phrases. It was first published in 1891 by Henry Campbell Black, a lawyer and lexicographer. Since then, it has been updated and revised by various editors, most notably Bryan A. Garner, the world's leading legal lexicographer. The current edition is the eleventh, published in 2019.

free download black 39;s law dictionary pdf

History and editions of the dictionary

The first edition of Black's Law Dictionary was published in 1891 by West Publishing Company, with the full title A Dictionary of Law: containing definitions of the terms and phrases of American and English jurisprudence, ancient and modern, including the principal terms of international constitutional and commercial law, with a collection of legal maxims and numerous select titles from the civil law and other foreign systems. A second edition was published in 1910 as A Law Dictionary.

Black died in 1927 and future editions were titled Black's Law Dictionary. The sixth and earlier editions of the book additionally provided case citations for the term cited, which was viewed by lawyers as its most useful feature, providing a useful starting point with leading cases. The invention of the Internet made legal research easier therefore many state- or circuit-specific case citations and outdated or overruled case citations were omitted from the seventh edition in 1999. The eighth edition introduced a unique system of perpetually updated case citations and cross-references to legal encyclopedias.

The current edition is the eleventh, published in 2019. It contains more than 55,000 terms, earliest usage dates, pronunciation guide, Latin maxims with index, a 1,000+ source bibliography, and 6,000+ quotations. It also features color illustrations and photographs for better understanding of some terms. It is available in hardbound, deluxe, pocket, online, and app versions.

Features and benefits of the dictionary

Black's Law Dictionary is not just a collection of words and definitions. It is a rich source of information and insight into the law and its history. Some of the features and benefits of using this dictionary are:

• It provides clear, concise, and precise definitions for more than 55,000 legal terms and phrases.

• It traces the etymology and usage history of each term with citations to primary sources.

• It includes thousands of quotations from famous jurists, scholars, and writers that illustrate how the terms are used in context.

• It offers guidance on pronunciation, spelling, grammar, syntax, and style for legal writing.

• It covers all areas of law, from common law to civil law, from constitutional law to international law.

• It reflects the latest developments and trends in the law with new terms and updated definitions.

• It is authoritative and reliable, as it is cited by judges and lawyers more than any other legal dictionary.

</ Why do you need Black's Law Dictionary?

Black's Law Dictionary is not only a useful reference tool for legal professionals and students, but also for anyone who wants to understand the law better. Here are some reasons why you might need this dictionary:

To understand legal terms and definitions

The law is full of complex and specialized terms that can be confusing or ambiguous for the layperson. For example, do you know the difference between a tort and a crime, or between a plaintiff and a petitioner, or between a verdict and a judgment? Black's Law Dictionary can help you clarify the meaning and scope of these and thousands of other legal terms with clear and accurate definitions.

To cite authoritative sources in your legal writing

If you are writing a legal document, such as a contract, a brief, a memo, or a letter, you might need to cite the definition of a legal term or phrase to support your argument or claim. Black's Law Dictionary can provide you with the most authoritative and widely accepted source for your citation, as it is recognized by courts and scholars as the standard for legal definitions. You can also use the dictionary to check the spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and style of legal terms and phrases.

To expand your legal knowledge and vocabulary

If you are interested in learning more about the law and its history, Black's Law Dictionary can be a great resource for you. You can browse through the dictionary and discover new terms and concepts that relate to different areas and branches of law. You can also learn about the origin and evolution of legal terms and phrases, as well as their synonyms, antonyms, and related terms. You can also find out about famous cases, statutes, doctrines, principles, and rules that have shaped the law over time.

How to download Black's Law Dictionary PDF for free?

Now that you know what Black's Law Dictionary is and why you need it, you might be wondering how to get it for free in PDF format. There are several ways to do this, but before we tell you how, we need to warn you about some legal and ethical considerations.

Legal and ethical considerations

Black's Law Dictionary is a copyrighted work that is protected by intellectual property laws. This means that you cannot copy, distribute, or use it without the permission of the publisher or the author. Doing so would be illegal and could result in civil or criminal penalties.

However, there are some exceptions and limitations to this rule, such as fair use, public domain, or educational purposes. Fair use is a doctrine that allows you to use a small portion of a copyrighted work for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. Public domain is a term that refers to works that are not protected by copyright anymore because they have expired or have been forfeited. Educational purposes are those that involve teaching or learning in a formal or informal setting.

Therefore, before you download Black's Law Dictionary PDF for free, you need to make sure that you are doing so legally and ethically. You need to check the source of the PDF file, the edition of the dictionary, the purpose of your use, and the amount of content that you are using. You also need to give proper credit and attribution to the original source when you use it.

Best websites for downloading free PDF books

If you have determined that you can download Black's Law Dictionary PDF for free legally and ethically, then you need to find a reliable website that offers it. There are many websites that claim to offer free PDF books on various topics, but not all of them are trustworthy or safe. Some of them might contain viruses, malware, spyware, or other harmful software that could damage your device or compromise your privacy. Some of them might also have broken links, low-quality files, incomplete content, or inaccurate information.

To avoid these risks and problems, you need to choose a website that has a good reputation, a large collection of books, a user-friendly interface, a fast download speed , and a secure connection. Here are some of the best websites that we recommend for downloading free PDF books, including Black's Law Dictionary:

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Steps to download the dictionary from one of the websites

As an example, we will show you how to download Black's Law Dictionary PDF for free from PDF Drive. Here are the steps that you need to follow:

• Go to and type "Black's Law Dictionary" in the search box.

Select the edition that you want to download from the results. For instance, we will choos