statutory law

American  

[stach-oo-tawr-ee law] / ˈstætʃ ʊˌtɔr i ˈlɔ /

noun

1. the written law established by enactments expressing the will of the legislature, as distinguished from the unwritten law or common law.

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statutory law Cultural  

1. A law or group of laws passed by a legislature or other official governing bodies. (Compare common law.)

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Etymology

Origin of statutory law

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

To gain the throne, they had to accept the English Bill of Rights which, among other things, abolished the royal power to nullify statutory law, either in general or for the benefit of particular people.

From Slate • Feb. 21, 2025

“The whole array of statutory law and constitutional law is available.”

From Seattle Times • Feb. 23, 2024

Currently, those rights in California were established by statutory law and by court ruling.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 26, 2022

However, in a well-functioning democracy, state constitutional and statutory law should reflect the preferences of a state's people.

From Salon • Aug. 2, 2022

This sameness of education and of sentiment created a public opinion more efficacious in directing and controlling public morals than any statutory law, or its most efficient administration.

From The Memories of Fifty Years Containing Brief Biographical Notices of Distinguished Americans, and Anecdotes of Remarkable Men; Interspersed with Scenes and Incidents Occurring during a Long Life of Observation Chiefly Spent in the Southwest by Sparks, William Henry