ordinance
Americannoun
-
an authoritative rule or law; a decree or command.
- Synonyms:
- order
-
a public injunction or regulation.
a city ordinance against excessive horn blowing.
- Synonyms:
- order
-
something believed to have been ordained, as by a deity or destiny.
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Ecclesiastical.
-
an established rite or ceremony.
-
a sacrament.
-
the communion.
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noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of ordinance
1275–1325; Middle English ordinaunce (< Old French ordenance ) < Medieval Latin ordinantia, derivative of Latin ordinant- (stem of ordināns ), present participle of ordināre to arrange. See ordination, -ance
Explanation
An ordinance is a local law. Many cities have recently passed ordinances making it illegal to smoke indoors or mandatory for pet owners to curb their dogs. Ordinance can also mean the act of making someone a priest. In both senses, it means a direction or command coming down from a higher authority or an official conference. If you break an ordinance, you'll likely be fined rather than jailed. Remember that an ordinance is a rule meant to keep things in order.
Vocabulary lists containing ordinance
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A year ago Mayor Karen Bass signed an ordinance raising the city’s minimum wage for hotel workers to $30 an hour in July 2028—timed to coincide with the L.A.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
And in her office’s role of drafting ordinance language, Roy said, Feldstein Soto has returned to city council ordinance language that isn’t “faithful to the intent of the drafter.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2026
The Board of Supervisors will also review the ordinance at least twice more, which will provide additional opportunities for public comment.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
Then, as the weeks went on, the city added more: resisting arrest, violating a city ordinance about breaching the peace, and providing false information.
From Slate • May 4, 2026
“Would you say your loud music was in violation of this ordinance, Mr. McAllister?”
From "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
