Ma'anar ƙamus na "launi na doka" yana nufin bayyanar ikon doka, amma wanda a zahiri doka ba ta goyan bayansa. Kalma ce da ake amfani da ita don bayyana ayyukan da mutumin da ya bayyana yana aiki a ƙarƙashin doka, amma wanda a zahiri ba shi da ikon yin hakan. Wannan na iya haɗawa da ayyukan da jami'an 'yan sanda, jami'an gwamnati, ko wasu mutanen da suka yi amfani da ikonsu da kuma take haƙƙin wasu. Ana amfani da kalmar "launi na doka" a cikin mahallin take haƙƙin ɗan adam kuma babban laifi ne.