ordinance
OR-dih-nunss
/ˈɔːrdɪnəns/
A piece of legislation enacted by a municipal authority or local government body.
Applies strictly to local or city-level law, rather than national statutes.
The story behind the word. From Old French 'ordenance', derived from Latin 'ordinare' (to arrange, set in order). An ordinance was an authoritative decree designed to keep order in local civil life.
Word relationships
- bylaw: 'Bylaw' is commonly used in Commonwealth jurisdictions for municipal or corporate rules.
- statute: 'Statute' usually refers to law enacted at state or federal level.
- deregulation: 'Deregulation' is the systematic repeal of administrative rules or ordinances.
Commonly confused with
- ordnance: 'Ordinance' (with an 'i') is a local law; 'ordnance' (without an 'i') refers to military weaponry and ammunition.
Word family
- ordain (verb): To order, decree, or enact officially.
Collocations
- city ordinance
- local ordinance
- pass an ordinance
- zoning ordinance
Example sentences
- "The city council passed a municipal ordinance restricting commercial noise levels after midnight." Local Government
- "Zoning ordinances dictate whether a property can be used for residential or commercial purposes." Urban Policy
Memory hook
ORDINANCE keeps local town affairs in ORDER. Setting local order through law.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'ordnance' (military weapons, ammunition, and supplies).
Fun facts
- The spelling difference between 'ordinance' (law) and 'ordnance' (artillery) arose in the 17th century from distinct bureaucratic branches.
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