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

A Kentucky statute required they sue those who had given authority for the rezoning: their own neighbors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

Furthermore, federal courts have typically given the president broad discretion in implementing the statute.

From Salon ● Aug. 16, 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

And in the winter, which was confined by statute to two months, the snow lay evenly, three feet thick, but never turned into slush.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

You can tell the importance of someone by how many statutes have been erected in tribute, and Sir Billy Boston wasn't lacking.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

Massachusetts recently softened its statutes so that only federal Medicaid dollars, and not anything involving state funds, would be subject to recovery.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 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

Another is the existence of relatively new statutes that support growing schools of the Atlantic menhaden, an oily fish with a variety of industrial uses like commercial bait and omega-3 supplements.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

Its purpose was to keep records: the purchase of grain, the sale of land, the triumphs of the king, the statutes of the priests, the positions of the stars, the prayers to the gods.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Related Words

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