statute
n. countablen. a formal rule or law that is written down by a government or group. It is the official version of a law that people must follow.
n. a formal written enactment of a legislative body; a law expressed in writing. Often contrasted with common law or judicial precedent.
The new statute limits how much noise factories can make.
The city council passed a statute requiring all new buildings to include solar panels on their roofs.
Legal scholars spent months debating whether the ancient statute remained enforceable in modern courts or if it had been superseded by more recent federal legislation.
From Middle English statut, from Old French statut, from Late Latin statutum (“a statute”), neuter singular of Latin statutus, past participle of statuō (“I set up, establish”).
Commonly used in the phrase 'statute of limitations' to refer to the legal time limit for starting a court case.