bylaw

noun by·law \ ˈbī-ˌlȯ \

variants: or less commonly byelaw

|Updated on: 8 Aug 2018

Examples: bylaw in a Sentence

Definition of bylaw

1 : a rule adopted by an organization chiefly for the government of its members and the regulation of its affairs

2 : a local ordinance

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See bylaw defined for kids

Examples of bylaw in a Sentence

the club's bylaws bar any member whose annual dues remain unpaid from voting in the election

Recent Examples of bylaw from the Web

The Hall’s bylaws stipulate that candidacy is based on what happens on the field, which is why Owens was voted in.

— jarrett bell, USA TODAY, "Pro Football Hall of Fame selector: Terrell Owens' bush league snub further clouds legacy," 8 June 2018
The intent is to manage further regulation of uses within this section of the bylaw.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Should Canton place a moratorium on new hospitals and convalescent or nursing homes?," 11 May 2018
If this sounds complicated, the bylaws of these crypto-co-operatives can be even more so.

— The Economist, "Raiders of the killer dappBlockchain technology may offer a way to re-decentralise the internet," 28 June 2018
Don's efforts to investigate Guy's behavior and related matters exceeded Don's authority and violated Calista's bylaws and the board's code of conduct, majority board members say.

— nathaniel herz, Anchorage Daily News, "Court filings expose power struggle over sex harassment charges at Native corporation Calista," 8 June 2018
That’s because National Amusements had a day earlier amended CBS’s bylaws to say the dilution of voting power could only take place with 90% of board members’ approval.

— alan murray, Fortune, "China Tactics, CBS Control, PayPal and iZettle: CEO Daily for May 18, 2018," 18 May 2018
But the committee’s work was abruptly halted at an October meeting as commission chairwoman Ariel Marzouca-Jaunai and vice chairwoman Jacqueline Massey Greene voted to disband it and name the commission to oversee the creation of bylaws.

— steven goode, Courant Community, "Mark Manson Elected To Bloomfield's Blue Hills Fire Commission," 17 May 2018
So how, then, did Rosenberg technically avoid violating any of the Senate’s bylaws despite all this?

— matt stout, BostonGlobe.com, "Stanley Rosenberg didn’t break any Senate rules. Now the Senate is considering changing them," 3 May 2018
Once on the board, the new trustee should obtain a copy of the bylaws, learn the names and contact information for other board members, become familiar with the budget, and put the meetings and major events on his calendar.

— brian lisik/special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Stolen truck reported to police: Medina Police Blotter," 16 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bylaw.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of bylaw

Middle English bilawe, probably from Old Norse *bȳlǫg, from Old Norse bȳr town + lag-, lǫg law

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

bylaw Synonyms

Synonyms

ground rule, regulation, rule;

act, law, ordinance, statute;

behest, charge, command, commandment, decree, dictate, direction, directive, edict, fiat, instruction, order;

axiom, fundamental, maxim, precept;

moral, principle, value;

ban, interdiction, prohibition, proscription, restriction;

blueprint, canon, formula, guide, guideline, standard;

BYLAW Defined for English Language Learners

bylaw

noun

Definition of bylaw for English Language Learners

: a rule that an organization (such as a club or company) makes and that its members must follow
: a law or regulation that is made by a local government and that applies only to the local area