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

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

From Seattle Times • Feb. 23, 2024

That leaves out circumstances where a later decision on statutory law indicates that the courts misinterpreted a statute and caused someone to be wrongly convicted or sentenced.

From Slate • Jun. 22, 2023

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

In 1911 the Legislature submitted to the voters a statutory law giving full suffrage to women, as it had authority to do.

From The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume VI by Harper, Ida Husted