stat ‧ ute /ˈstætʃuːt/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: statut , from Late Latin statutum 'law' , from Latin statuere 'to set up, station' , from status ; ⇨ ↑ state 1 ]
1 . a law passed by a parliament, council etc and formally written down:
Protection for the consumer is laid down by statute (=established by law) .
2 . a formal rule of an institution or organization:
College statutes forbid drinking on campus.
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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
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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.
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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
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building regulations
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environmental regulations on air pollution
▪ restriction an official rule that limits what people can do:
new restrictions on immigration
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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
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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.
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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.