noun
Uncommon
ordinance
Ordinance (noun) means a law made by a local authority, such as a city council. Example: “A new town ordinance bans cars from the market square on Saturdays.”
noun
1
A law made by a local authority, such as a city council.
"Alderman Richard Mell then pushed through antipeddling ordinances in the 33rd and 47th wards."
— Neal Pollack, The Pushcart War (1997)
"A new town ordinance bans cars from the market square on Saturdays."
"The city council passed an ordinance that limits noise after ten at night."
"You can be fined for breaking the local ordinance on dropping litter."
2
An official order given by someone in authority.
"The king issued an ordinance requiring every village to repair its bridge."
"Under the governor's ordinance, all ships had to stay in port during the storm."
"Nobody dared ignore the ordinance, since it came straight from the ruler."
3
Before the Third English Civil War, an official order issued by Parliament.
"Parliament issued an ordinance to raise money for the army without the king's approval."
"Historians study each ordinance passed by Parliament during that troubled period."
"The ordinance had the force of law even though the king never signed it."
4
Detailed rules at a university that put the general ideas in its charter and statutes into practice.
"The university ordinance explains exactly how students must be examined each year."
"A new ordinance set out how the faculty boards should be chosen."
"Before changing the course, the professors checked what the ordinance required."
Easily confused with
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A new town _____ bans cars from the market square on Saturdays.
Etymology
Came into English via Middle English ordinaunce (around 1300), from Old French ordenance (“decree, command”) — modern French ordonnance — from Medieval Latin ordinantia, from ordinans, the present participle of ordino (“put in order”), the source also of ordain. It is a doublet of ordonnance.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for ordinance
See all rhymes for ordinance →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of ordinance?
"ordinance" (noun) means a law made by a local authority, such as a city council.
What is another word for ordinance?
Other words for "ordinance" include ordination, regulation, bylaw.
What are the different meanings of ordinance?
"ordinance" has 3 main meanings: 1. A law made by a local authority, such as a city council; 2. An official order given by someone in authority; 3. Before the Third English Civil War, an official order issued by Parliament.
How do you use ordinance in a sentence?
Example: "A new town ordinance bans cars from the market square on Saturdays."
