bylaw

American  

[bahy-law] / ˈbaɪˌlɔ /

Sometimes byelaw

noun

bylaws plural

1. a standing rule governing the regulation of a corporation's or society's internal affairs.

2. a subsidiary law.

3. British. an ordinance of a municipality or community.

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bylaw British  

/ ˈbaɪˌlɔː /

noun

1. a rule made by a local authority for the regulation of its affairs or management of the area it governs

2. a regulation of a company, society, etc

3. a subsidiary law

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bylaws
  plural

Etymology

Origin of bylaw

First recorded in 1325–75; by- + law ¹; replacing Middle English bilawe, equivalent to by “town” (from Scandinavian; compare Danish by ) + lawe “law”

Explanation

A bylaw is a rule that a group or company sets up, one that all members or employees are meant to follow. The bylaws of your school's student council might stipulate that all student council officers have to be in good academic standing. In Britain and some other countries, a bylaw is a local law, rather than a national one: "The city's bylaws don't allow me to sell my artwork without a special permit." In the U.S., bylaws apply to organizations rather than cities, towns, or states. A club's bylaws, for example, might state that each member has to pay a small membership fee. Bylaw is rooted in the Old Norse bi-lagu, "town law."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bylaw bylaws

Nereyda constantly reminds people that Hernandez’s participation does not violate any California law or CIF bylaw and she doesn’t block anyone else from participating in competition.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 14, 2026

Though a town body approved the expansion last March, a Nantucket bylaw requires residents to approve use of town-owned land for erosion-control projects at the annual Town Meeting.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026

It comes as part of new amendments to a bylaw under the NSL that the government gazetted on Monday.

From BBC ● Mar. 23, 2026

CIF Executive Director Ron Nocetti said schools have failed to change or get rid of bylaw 600, because it effects all sports and would create additional issues.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 3, 2025

It breaks every bylaw but this school has always been antiquated.

From "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" by J.K. Rowling

But its bylaws stipulate that the entity can be dissolved at any time, which means the billionaire could regain control of it as soon as his second term ends in 2029.

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

ISS also complained that Exxon’s amended bylaws would provide “an exclusive forum provision” to litigate shareholder complaints in federal court in southern Texas or the state’s special business courts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026

“However, under the settlement, the bylaws of the student organization cannot state a policy of restricting who may speak at the organization’s events,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2026

In a message sent to the law school Thursday, Dean Erwin Chemerinsky said that students may “choose speakers based on their views” but cannot have bylaws that ban specific types of speakers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2026

Mr. Newton crossed the room and took down a copy of the bylaws from a shelf.

From "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary D. Schmidt

Related Words

• act
• case
• charge
• charter
• code
• constitution
• decision
• decree
• legislation
• mandate
• measure
• order
• precedent
• regulation
• requirement
• ruling
• statute