ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ordinance

n.
US //ˈɔɹdənəns// UK //ˈɔːdɪnəns// or·di·nance
  1. 1 local law (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Law

    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.

    Example

    The city council passed a new ordinance that forbids smoking in public parks.

    Example

    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.

    Usage

    Often used with verbs like 'pass', 'enact', or 'violate'.
    Pitfall
    The 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).

  2. 2 religious ritual (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal Technical Religion

    a religious ceremony or practice that is required by a church.

    a religious rite or ceremony established by an ecclesiastical authority.

    Example

    The church members gathered to observe the sacred ordinance of communion.

    Example

    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 tip

    In modern English, this sense is almost exclusively found in formal theological discussions or specific church documents.
Origin

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.

Word family

© 2026 English Reference