1. The philosophy or science of law.
2. A division or department of law: medical jurisprudence.

[Late Latin iūrisprūdentia : Latin iūris, genitive of iūs, law + Latin prūdentia, knowledge (from prūdēns, prūdent-, knowing; see prudent).]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.