ordinance
- 01 C1 Advanced
a law or rule made by a city or local government rather than a national one.
a municipal regulation or local law enacted by a city or county government.
Simple“The city council passed a new ordinance that forbids smoking in public parks.”
In context“Under the new municipal ordinance, property owners are strictly required to clear snow from the sidewalks in front of their buildings within twenty-four hours.”
UsageOften used with verbs like 'pass', 'enact', or 'violate'.
PitfallThe city passed a new ordnance about parking. The city passed a new ordinance about parking.Do not confuse 'ordinance' (a law) with 'ordnance' (military weapons and ammunition).
Synonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
a religious ceremony or practice that is required by a church.
a religious rite or ceremony established by an ecclesiastical authority.
Simple“The church members gathered to observe the sacred ordinance of communion.”
In context“The theologian argued that these specific ordinances were essential to the spiritual life of the community, serving as visible signs of their shared faith.”
Teacher's tipIn modern English, this sense is almost exclusively found in formal theological discussions or specific church documents.
“Camarena's company uses electric tools where they're required to, in cities with ordinances banning petrol tools.”
“For example, in Chicago, which has had a citywide anti-idling ordinance since 2009, only about 800 citations have been issued in the past 15 years.”
From Middle English ordinaunce (ca. 1300), from Old French ordenance (“decree, command”) (modern French ordonnance), from Medieval Latin ordinantia, from ordinans, the present participle of ordino (“put in order”) (whence ordain). Doublet of ordonnance.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.