statute
noun
stat·ute
ˈsta-(ˌ)chüt 
-chət
1
: a law enacted by the legislative branch of a government
2
: an act of a corporation or of its founder intended as a permanent rule
3
: an international instrument setting up an agency and regulating its scope or authority
Examples of statute in a Sentence
The state legislature passed the statute by an overwhelming margin.
business practices that are prohibited by statute
Recent Examples on the Web
Other statutes written in that era, such as the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 (FHA), contained similar language.
—
The Editors, National Review, 25 Apr. 2025
When the fate of the Affordable Care Act, President Obama’s landmark health-care law, was before the Supreme Court, in 2012, Clement argued on behalf of twenty-six states that the statute was unconstitutional.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025
The statute leaves no role for agencies to 'assess citizenship,' and the president lacks any lawful authority to contravene the NVRA by requiring agencies to do so.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2025
Some of his actions have been highly contentious, including his decision to deport migrants to an El Salvadorian prison using an 18th century wartime statute — which was subject to legal challenges.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for statute
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The Editors, National Review, 25 Apr. 2025
When the fate of the Affordable Care Act, President Obama’s landmark health-care law, was before the Supreme Court, in 2012, Clement argued on behalf of twenty-six states that the statute was unconstitutional.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025
The statute leaves no role for agencies to 'assess citizenship,' and the president lacks any lawful authority to contravene the NVRA by requiring agencies to do so.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2025
Some of his actions have been highly contentious, including his decision to deport migrants to an El Salvadorian prison using an 18th century wartime statute — which was subject to legal challenges.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for statute
Cite this Entry
“Statute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/statute. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
statute
noun
stat·ute
ˈstach-üt
-ət
: a law put into effect by the legislative branch of a government
Legal Definition
statute
noun
stat·ute
ˈsta-chüt
1
: a law enacted by the legislative branch of a government see also code, statutory law
2
: an act of a corporation or its founder intended as a permanent rule
3
: an international instrument setting up an agency and regulating its scope or authority
the statute of the International Court of Justice
Etymology
Latin statutum law, regulation, from neuter of statutus, past participle of statuere to set up, station, from status position, state
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