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ordinance

OR-din-uns /ˈɔːrdɪnəns/

nounC1GRE

formallegal

A law or regulation made by a city or town government.

Specific to local government (municipal, county) rather than state or national. These are laws that govern local matters like zoning, noise, or parking.

The story behind the word. The word 'ordinance' comes from the Old French 'ordenance', which traces back to the Latin 'ordinantia'. This Latin term means 'an ordering' or 'arrangement', derived from the verb 'ordinare', meaning 'to order' or 'to arrange'. So, an 'ordinance' is a rule or law that has been formally 'ordered' or 'arranged' by a governing body, specifically a local one.

Word relationships

bylaw: A rule made by a company or society to control the actions of its members; similar to an ordinance but for private organizations.
regulation: A rule or directive made and maintained by an authority; 'ordinance' is a specific type of local regulation.
rule: More general; an 'ordinance' is a formal, legally binding local rule.

Commonly confused with

statute: 'Ordinance' is a local law; 'statute' is a state or federal law.

Word family

ordain (verb): to order or decree something officially

Collocations

city ordinance
local ordinance
zoning ordinance
violate an ordinance

Example sentences

"The city council passed a new ordinance restricting loud music after 10 PM in residential areas." Local Governance
"Residents must adhere to the local ordinance regarding waste disposal and recycling schedules." Community Rules

Memory hook

An 'ORDINANCE' is an 'ORDER' from the 'ORDINARY' (local) government. Local order

When not to use

Do not use 'ordinance' for state or federal laws; 'statute' or 'act' would be appropriate for those.

Fun facts

The term 'ordinance' is also used in some religious contexts to refer to a prescribed rite or ceremony.
Local ordinances often deal with issues that directly impact daily life, such as pet licensing, noise control, and building codes.