ordinances

noun

plural of ordinance
as in laws
a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature a local ordinance forbids all street parking during snowstorms

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ordinances Volusia County became the only Florida county to ban declawing in 2022 when commissioners overhauled its animal ordinances. — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2026 Chief Rodriguez said the city and Police Department comply with all applicable state laws and Santa Ana’s municipal sanctuary ordinances governing federal immigration enforcement. — Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 6 Nov. 2026 City officials began working on ordinances to enact the controls several months ago as complaints from residents mounted. — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026 In Arizona, voters passed a measure banning the state from installing and using photo enforcement systems (like speed and red-light cameras) to catch people who violate certain traffic ordinances. — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026 Instead, temples are sacred places reserved for special ordinances. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Nov. 2026 When Wilson sent me her timeline, her request for the operative actions of the city (resolutions and ordinances) was nearly four weeks old. — Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026 The proposal is a combination of two ordinances originally pitched to the council in September. — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2026 It is not referenced in the Vermilion Parish code of ordinances. — ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordinances
  1. laws
  2. acts
  3. bills
  4. statutes
  5. amendments
Noun
  • California voters have twice rejected ballot measures to abolish the death penalty, first in 2012 and again in 2016, and Newsom’s decision overrides the will of the courts and state laws that permit capital punishment.
    — Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Speaking in Spanish, Leo emphasized the importance of protecting family life and delivered a pointed criticism of both laws.
    — Carrie Kahn, NPR, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of laws
Noun
  • Working in Brown’s favor is his stadium-conquering joint R&B Tour with Usher, which has reinforced his status as one of the most lucrative touring acts in Black music history.
    — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Silent Crow gives an even higher figure of 450,100 which included those killed in combat, non-combat losses among military personnel and deaths marked as terrorist acts.
    — Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of acts
Noun
  • Claude can also flag unusual transactions, duplicate charges, unexpected fees and bills that have gradually increased.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Democrats won legislative trifectas big enough to pass progressive bills that had gathered dust and lint under Republican control.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of bills
Noun
  • Hinojosa would not be able to simply repeal existing statutes by executive order, including immigration laws, meaning state lawmakers would need to be on board with major changes.
    — Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The prosecutor's conclusion differed from an Agriculture Department investigator's assessment that Garner had violated criminal statutes, according to the report.
    — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of statutes
Noun
  • Two other amendments on the ballot were rejected and drew about 100,000 fewer votes.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 9 Nov. 2026
  • The 1983 amendments gradually raised the full retirement age from 65 to 67 and, for the first time, subjected some benefits to federal income tax.
    — Lena Borrelli, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of amendments

Browse Nearby Words

ordinance
ordinances
ordinaries
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Cite this Entry

“Ordinances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordinances. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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