variants
or less commonly byelaw
1
: a rule adopted by an organization chiefly for the government of its members and the regulation of its affairs
2
: a local ordinance
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 on the Web
Usmanov is forty-three but already knows who will be in charge of his funeral playlist, and of drinks (bylaws notwithstanding), and of enforcing his persona-non-grata list.
—
Paige Williams, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
In 2020, Elite’s bylaws had listed Prime as its sole controlling entity, meaning Prime could choose Elite’s board members and change Elite’s articles or bylaws.
—Kristen Taketa, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
The organization has been operating since 2023 without a budget, bylaws, ethics statements or audits required under state law.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2025
The contract also maintains its unusual provision allowing Sanders to disclose any athletically related outside income to his superiors verbally, thus enabling him to follow NCAA bylaws while ensuring that no public paper trail is created for these earnings.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bylaw
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Paige Williams, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
In 2020, Elite’s bylaws had listed Prime as its sole controlling entity, meaning Prime could choose Elite’s board members and change Elite’s articles or bylaws.
—Kristen Taketa, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
The organization has been operating since 2023 without a budget, bylaws, ethics statements or audits required under state law.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2025
The contract also maintains its unusual provision allowing Sanders to disclose any athletically related outside income to his superiors verbally, thus enabling him to follow NCAA bylaws while ensuring that no public paper trail is created for these earnings.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bylaw
Cite this Entry
“Bylaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bylaw. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bylaw
noun
by·law
ˈbī-ˌlȯ 
: a rule adopted by an organization for governing its members and regulating its affairs
Etymology
Middle English bilawe "bylaw," probably from an early Norse compound of bȳr "town" and lǫg "law"
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