# statute

/ˈstætʃut/ (US) · /stˈætʃuːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/statute
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. written law

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a formal law that is written down and passed by a government or parliament.

For teachers: a formal written enactment of a legislative body that governs a state or nation. Usually countable when referring to specific laws.

- The new statute requires all businesses to reduce their plastic waste by next year.
- The court must determine whether the defendant's actions fall within the specific prohibitions outlined in the federal statute.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'statute of limitations', which refers to the legal time limit for starting legal action.

### 2. organizational rule

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a formal rule made by an organization or institution to govern its members.

For teachers: a permanent rule established by an organization, corporation, or educational institution to regulate its internal affairs.

- The university statutes define how the dean is elected every four years.
- The governing body amended the company statutes to allow for more transparent voting procedures during the annual general meeting.

### 3. divine law

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

a law or command believed to come from God or a king.

For teachers: a law or decree issued by a sovereign or by a deity. This sense is primarily found in religious or historical texts.

- The ancient text describes the statutes that the people were expected to follow.
- The prophet exhorted the assembly to remain faithful to the divine statutes delivered to their ancestors.

## Examples

- 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scholars spent months debating whether the ancient statute remained enforceable in modern courts or if it had been superseded by more recent federal legislation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.