STATUTE

[noun] - a law which has been formally approved and written downThe statute is tough because it was originally designed to prevent organised crime from operating behind legitimate business fronts. [C]The salaries of most federal workers are set by statute. [U]When a law is on/reaches the statute book it has been formally approved and written down and can be used in a law court.It will be at least Easter next year before the legislation and regulations are on/reach the statute book.