or ‧ di ‧ nance /ˈɔːdənəns, ˈɔːdɪnəns $ ˈɔːrd ə nəns/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: ordenance 'arranging' , from Latin ordinare ; ⇨ ↑ ordain ]
1 . American English a law, usually of a city or town, that forbids or restricts an activity:
a city ordinance that says parks must be closed at 11 p.m.
2 . an order given by a ruler or governing organization:
a Royal ordinance
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ rule an instruction that says what people are allowed to do or not allowed to do, for example in a game, school, or company:
the rules of baseball
|
He disobeyed the school rules.
▪ law an official rule that everyone in a country, city, or state must obey:
It is against the law to carry a concealed weapon.
|
The law requires motorcyclists to wear helmets.
▪ regulation an official rule or order, which is part of a set of rules made by a government or organization:
the regulations for applying for a passport
|
building regulations
|
environmental regulations on air pollution
▪ restriction an official rule that limits what people can do:
new restrictions on immigration
|
The government is planning to impose regulations on the amount of alcohol you can bring into the country.
▪ guidelines rules or instructions about the best way to do something:
the Department of Health’s guidelines for a healthy diet
|
guidelines for classroom teachers
▪ code a set of rules that people or organizations agree to obey but are not forced to obey:
The school has a dress code for its students.
|
the company’s code of conduct
▪ statute formal a law that has been officially approved by a parliament, council etc, and written down:
The statute banned corporal punishment.
▪ ordinance American English a law, made by a city or town, that forbids or restricts an activity:
A local ordinance limited speed in the parks to ten miles an hour.