bye-law

A city council member reviews a new bye-law before a meeting.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A local or municipal regulation: A "bye-law" is a rule or law made by a local authority (such as a city council) or a private organization (such as a company or club) that applies only within its jurisdiction or membership.
   • A secondary or subordinate law: It can also refer to a regulation that is supplementary to a principal law, often governing specific matters not covered by national legislation.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The city council passed a bye-law banning smoking in public parks. (A local regulation prohibiting smoking in parks within that city.)
  • According to the company's bye-laws, shareholders must vote on major decisions. (A rule specific to the company's governance.)
  • The housing association's bye-laws require tenants to keep their gardens tidy. (A regulation for residents of that housing estate.)

Advanced Usage

• "to contravene a bye-law": to violate or break a local regulation.
  • He was fined for contravening the bye-law against littering. (He broke the local rule about litter.)
• "to adopt a bye-law": to officially accept or establish a local regulation.
  • The village council adopted a bye-law to control noise levels after 10 p.m. (They made a new local rule.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bye-law (also spelled by-law or bylaw): The same word, with variant spellings. "By-law" is more common in British English, while "bylaw" is often used in American English.
  • The school's by-laws require students to wear uniforms. (The school's internal regulations.)

Synonyms

• Regulation: an official rule or order.
• Ordinance: a law or decree made by a local authority.
• Rule: a prescribed guide for conduct or action.

Phrasal Verbs

• (No common phrasal verbs are directly associated with "bye-law".)

Related Idioms

• (No common idioms are directly associated with "bye-law".)