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FindLaw Legal Dictionary

The FindLaw Legal Dictionary -- free access to over 8260 definitions of legal terms. Search for a definition or browse our legal glossaries.

term:

Substantive

substantive adj

1 : of or relating to a matter of substance as opposed to form or procedure [a issue] [the instructions to the jury] [was dismissed on procedural and grounds] compare procedural
2 : affecting rights, duties, or causes of actions [a statutory change] [a rule of law]
3 : existing in its own right
;specif
: of or relating to a substantive crime [the object of a RICO conspiracy is to violate a RICO provision "United States v. Elliot, 571 F.2d 880 (1978)"]



Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.

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