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Noun: colour of law
Usage: Brit, Cdn (US: color of law)
  1. (law) a mere semblance of legal right; something done with the apparent authority of law but actually in contravention of law
    "the plaintiff claimed that under colour of law the officer had deprived him of his civil rights";
    - color of law [US]

Derived forms: colours of law

Type of: color [US], colour [Brit, Cdn], gloss, semblance

Encyclopedia: Colour of law