statute
/'stætju:t/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A law enacted by a legislative body: A formal written rule or regulation established by a government's law-making institution, such as a parliament or congress.
- A permanent rule established by an institution: A written regulation governing the conduct of members within a specific organization or community.
Adjective:
- Enacted, created, or regulated by statute: Pertaining to or established by a formal legislative act. This usage is often found in legal terminology.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- The new statute prohibits the use of plastic bags. (The new law passed by the legislature prohibits the use of plastic bags.)
- The university's statutes outline the rights and responsibilities of faculty. (The university's formal regulations outline the rights and responsibilities of faculty.)
Adjective:
- Statute law often takes precedence over common law in this jurisdiction. (Law created by legislative acts often takes precedence over judge-made law in this jurisdiction.)
- They have a statute obligation to report the incident. (They have a legally mandated obligation, based on a written law, to report the incident.)
Advanced Usage
"To be on the statute book": To be officially enacted and recorded as a law.
- This anti-discrimination law has been on the statute book for over a decade. (This law has been officially part of the body of laws for over ten years.)
"By statute": As required or defined by a formal law.
- The minimum wage is set by statute. (The minimum wage is established through a legislative act.)
Variants and Related Words
Statutory (adj): Required, permitted, or enacted by statute.
- Landlords have a statutory duty to ensure the property is safe. (Landlords have a duty required by law to ensure safety.)
Codify (v): To arrange laws or rules into a systematic code, often resulting in statute law.
- Legislation (n): The process of making or enacting laws; laws collectively.
Synonyms
- Law: A rule established by authority.
- Act: A formal decision or law made by a legislative body.
- Ordinance: A piece of legislation, often at a local government level.
- Enactment: The process of passing a law; the law itself.
Related Phrases
Statute of limitations: A law that sets the maximum time after an event within which legal proceedings may be initiated.
- The statute of limitations for filing that lawsuit has expired. (The legally defined time limit for starting that lawsuit has passed.)
Statute mile: A unit of distance defined by law (e.g., 5,280 feet), also known as a land mile.
- The sign indicates the next town is five statute miles away.
Adjective
- enacted by a legislative body
- statute law
- codified written laws
Noun
- an act passed by a legislative body