statute

American  

[stach-oot, -oot] / ˈstætʃ ut, -ʊt /

noun

• statutes
  plural

1. Law.

   1. an enactment made by a legislature and expressed in a formal document.

   2. the document in which such an enactment is expressed.

2. International Law. an instrument annexed or subsidiary to an international agreement, as a treaty.

3. a permanent rule established by an organization, corporation, etc., to govern its internal affairs.

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statute British  

/ ˈstætjuːt /

noun

1. 1. an enactment of a legislative body expressed in a formal document

   2. this document

2. a permanent rule made by a body or institution for the government of its internal affairs

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• statutes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of statute

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English statut, from Old French estatut, from Late Latin statūtum, noun use of neuter of Latin statūtus “made to stand,” past participle of statuere “to make stand, set up,” verb derivative of status status

Explanation

A statute is a formal law or rule. Whether it's enacted by a government, company, or other organization, a statute is typically written down. Local governments can pass all kinds of statutes, or written laws, to govern their citizens. A city's government might try to restrict the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public, or make it illegal to pet cats on the weekends. Of course, silly statutes like no cat-petting on weekends can be pretty hard to pass.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

statute statutes

In Texas, legal malpractice claims are generally subject to a two-year statute of limitations, although certain exceptions may extend the filing deadline.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

This statute greatly expanded the protections granted to authors.

From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026

Kanin’s attorneys argue the disbursement delay was caused by incomplete records and due diligence concerns — worries further snarled by the so-called slayer statute barring Californians from inheriting from people they have killed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

A dissenting judge said the ballroom project is likely acceptable under a federal statute that authorizes the president to take certain steps for the “improvement” of the executive residence at the White House.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

“Mr. Sinacore said that he can’t use your testimony—or Luke’s—because the statute of limitations had passed,” she reported.

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

The case spawned in Nevada, of all places, as the local Gaming Control Board sent a cease-and-desist letter notifying Kalshi that it was violating Nevada statutes and gaming regulations.

From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2026

Flaherty that prediction-market contracts are “swaps” under the Commodity Exchange Act, and that therefore federal law pre-empts state gambling statutes from reaching these markets.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026

He added that federal banking laws such as anti-money-laundering rules and consumer protection statutes will be “directly applicable and enforceable.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

None of this is a criticism of the statutes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

Their death-in-prison sentences were insulated from legal challenges or appeals by a maze of procedural rules, statutes of limitations, and legal barricades designed to make successful postconviction challenges almost impossible.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Related Words

• act
• bill
• decree
• edict
• measure
• regulation