ordinance
or·di·nance 
The definition of an ordinance is a rule or law enacted by local government.
A law about parking enacted by local government is an example of an ordinance.
ordinance
- a direction or command of an authoritative nature
- that which is held to be a decree of fate or of a deity
- an established or prescribed practice or usage, esp. a religious rite
- a governmental, now esp. municipal, statute or regulation
Origin of ordinance
Old French ordenance from ordener: see ordainordinance
noun
- An authoritative command or order.
- A custom or practice established by long usage.
- A Christian rite, especially the Eucharist.
- A statute or regulation, especially one enacted by a municipal government.
Origin of ordinance
Middle English ordinaunce from Old French ordenance from Medieval Latin ōrdinantia from Latin ōrdināns ōrdinant- present participle of ōrdināre to ordain from ōrdō ōrdin- order ; see ar- in Indo-European roots.ordinance
Noun
(plural ordinances)
Usage notes
This word is sometimes confused with ordnance, or military weaponry.
Origin
From Middle English (ca. 1300), from Old French ordenance (Modern French ordonnance) "decree, command", from Middle Latin ordinantia, from ordinans, the present participle of Latin ordinare "put in order" (whence ordain).
ordinance - Legal Definition
n
A local law, usually on the
municipality level, that, when fully enacted, has the same effect and force as
a statute within that municipality.
