statutes

noun

plural of statute
as in laws
a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature a new antilittering statute

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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 statutes 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 However, statutes sometimes allow courts to shift fees to the losing party. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2026 The state indictment is a classic murder case, prosecutors argued, and murder is generally not defined by federal statutes. — Shayna Jacobs, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2026 Those statutes prohibit local governments from limiting federal immigration enforcement. — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026 While state legislators pass the statutes that define crimes, local prosecutors decide where to spend limited enforcement dollars. — Ronald Wright, The Conversation, 27 Oct. 2026 Some potential privacy breaches may fall under product safety laws that attorneys general can prosecute under UDAP statutes , Schroeder said, acknowledging the possibility of broader AI legislation coming out of the next Congress. — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026 The lawsuit in District Court for the District of Columbia contends that the federal government failed to comply with numerous statutes. — ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026 Conservative lawyer Michael Edney cast the move in a long line of other attempts to pare back statutes from that era. — Carrie Johnson, NPR, 16 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for statutes
  1. laws
  2. acts
  3. ordinances
  4. bills
  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
  • At one point, Two Shell were one of the most exciting acts in underground dance music.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
  • In David’s 1996 novel Absolute Power, an American president presumes himself to be above the rule of law and seeks to force his underlings to commit criminal acts that will benefit him.
    — David Baldacci, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of acts
Noun
  • 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
Definition of ordinances
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
  • Here’s how Florida voters weighed in on the other two amendments on the ballot.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Florida voters are additionally deciding three constitutional amendments, including a proposal addressing property taxes.
    — Sergio Candido, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of amendments

Browse Nearby Words

statute
statutes
statutory
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Cite this Entry

“Statutes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/statutes. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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