ordinances

USAGE SUMMARY

'ordinances' is correct and it is a commonly used word in written English.
You can use 'ordinances' when referring to laws, rules, or regulations, especially those established by a local or regional government. Example sentence: The city council passed a number of ordinances in order to improve public safety.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They say Tucson ordinances unfairly target the homeless.

The Guardian

Minimum wage ordinances gained steam across the country this year as Democrats sought to press the issue during a contentious midterm election cycle.

The Guardian - Business

Mr Modi resorted to ordinances in their stead.

The Economist

But ordinances are meant to be limited to urgent business when parliament is not sitting.

The Economist

That account might sound a bit rich for proceedings where traffic patterns and zoning ordinances are the juiciest items on the agenda, but in a basic sense Tocqueville was right.

The Economist

So the main point of the ordinances seems to be to signal that the government does not intend to be stymied by a stroppy parliament.Mr Modi can at least point to one parliamentary landmark.

The Economist

However, ordinances give only temporary powers.

The Economist

Over the past few years many cities have, in response to public pressure, relaxed ordinances against the birds.Andy Schneider, a radio host known as the Chicken Whisperer, says he gets calls every day from people who are interested in challenging their city council on this score.

The Economist

After all, the most important policies are introduced by presidential decree, as ordinances.

The Economist

Their historical model is the Asilomar conference of 1975, when the first biotechnologists met to agree on self-denying ordinances that went a long way towards establishing their credentials as responsible and trustworthy people.

The Economist

The federal government has been given four months to get parliament to endorse all 37 decrees or ordinances passed by the former general.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about local governance, use "ordinances" to specifically refer to laws enacted at the municipal or county level. This adds precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "ordinances" when referring to state or federal laws; "statutes" is the more appropriate term for those broader legal enactments.

Linguistic Context

The word "ordinances" functions primarily as a noun, specifically the plural form of "ordinance". It refers to a body of rules or laws enacted by a municipal authority. As evidenced by Ludwig, it is used to describe local regulations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

0.1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ordinances" refers to local laws or regulations. As confirmed by Ludwig, the term is grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, especially in news, encyclopedias, and science. When writing, remember to use "ordinances" for municipal-level regulations, and differentiate it from broader terms like "statutes". Common alternatives include "regulations", "statutes", and "bylaws", each with nuanced differences. Ludwig AI indicates its proper and frequent usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regulations

Focuses more generally on rules and directives.

statutes

Refers specifically to formal written laws enacted by a legislative body.

bylaws

Often refers to rules established by organizations or corporations.

decrees

Implies an official order issued by a legal authority.

proclamations

Emphasizes a public or official announcement.

directives

Highlights the aspect of giving instructions or orders.

rules

A general term for principles governing conduct or action.

prescriptions

Suggests formally recommended or imposed guidelines.

enactments

Refers to the process of establishing something into law.

legal mandates

Highlights the compulsory nature of legal requirements.

FAQs

How are "ordinances" different from laws?

"Ordinances" are typically laws passed by local government bodies like cities or counties, while laws are enacted at the state or federal level.

What's the difference between "ordinances" and "regulations"?

"Ordinances" are legislative acts of a local government, whereas "regulations" are rules created by administrative agencies to implement existing laws.

How to use "ordinances" in a sentence?

Example: The city council passed several noise "ordinances" to address resident complaints.

What kind of topics do "ordinances" usually cover?

"Ordinances" commonly address local issues such as zoning, building codes, traffic, and public health.