: an order having the full force of law that is issued by the British monarch acting by and with the advice of the Privy Council or by a governor-general acting by and with the advice of the privy council or similar body of a member nation of the British Commonwealth usually as a means of giving legal effect to a decision of the cabinet in areas not involving parliamentary action                                      
              
                             the promulgation of orders-in-council both in pursuance of royal prerogative and under authority of statute— F. A. Ogg & Harold Zink
F. A. Ogg & Harold Zink                          
                
                     
            
   
                   
             
                    
                        
        
        
        
                
                
                
        
                
     
    
                                                    
                                                                                        
            
                                    
                        
                                                    
                                
                       
                                        
                
                                                
                            
            
                                    
                                    
                        
                                            
                                                    
                                                                
                                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                        
                                                    
                            
                                                               
                                                
  
  Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!
  Merriam-Webster unabridged
 
                          
                    
Share