ordinance
OR-duh-nuhns
/ˈɔːr.dɪ.nəns/
A piece of legislation enacted by a municipal authority or local government.
Ordinances apply only within the boundaries of the specific city or county that passed them, distinguishing them from state or federal statutes.
The story behind the word. Ordinance traces back to the Latin 'ordinare', meaning 'to put in order'. In medieval times, an ordinance was a decree meant to keep society orderly. Today, local governments use ordinances to keep their specific towns running smoothly, regulating everything from noise levels to traffic flow.
Word relationships
- statute: A statute is a law passed by a state or federal legislature, whereas an ordinance is passed by a local city or county government.
- by-law: By-laws are often internal rules of an organization, though in some countries they refer to municipal laws.
Commonly confused with
- ordnance: Ordnance (without the 'i') refers to military weapons and ammunition, while an ordinance is a local law.
Word family
- ordain (verb): To order or decree officially.
Collocations
- local ordinance
- municipal ordinance
- pass an ordinance
- violate an ordinance
Example sentences
- "The city council passed a new ordinance prohibiting overnight parking on residential streets during winter months." A news report on local parking regulations.
- "He argued that the local speed limit ordinance was unconstitutional because it conflicted with state highway laws." A legal dispute over local speed limits.
Memory hook
An ordinance keeps the city in 'order'. If you ignore the 'i' in the middle, you get 'ordnance' (weapons), which is definitely not what you want in a peaceful town! Ordinance keeps the city in order.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to state-wide or national laws.
Fun facts
- Some historical municipal ordinances are still on the books, such as a famous one in Alabama that makes it illegal to wear a fake mustache that causes laughter in church.
Related words
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