Definition

1. 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.

2. 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

1. enacted by a legislative body
   • statute law
   • codified written laws

Noun

1. an act passed by a legislative body