England and Wales
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English
[edit]
Alternative forms
[edit]- England & Wales
- E&W, E+W (abbreviations)
Proper noun
[edit]- (UK, law) The jurisdiction covering England and Wales, two constituent countries of the United Kingdom, which share a single legal system and are treated as a single country for various purposes.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see England, Wales.
Usage notes
[edit]Until 1967 (and in legislation passed prior to that year), the term England referred to the extent of the modern jurisdiction of England and Wales, which is the extent to which English law applies. In laws passed from 1967 onwards, England is instead defined as referring only to the modern extent. As such, the term England and Wales is often used when amending pre-1967 legislation, as well as in legal re-enactments and other changes to the law which affect the whole jurisdiction of English law.