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
Advocates from both sides of the aisle say a compassionate release statute would do just that.
—
The Indianapolis Star, 18 Apr. 2024
The lawsuit asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order and to ultimately declare the statute unconstitutional.
—Anumita Kaur, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
The Supreme Court hears arguments today that challenge a statute used to prosecute hundreds of defendants charged with invading the Capitol on Jan. 6.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 16 Apr. 2024
The court’s conservatives have often taken a skeptical view of prosecutions that rely on a broad reading of a criminal statute.
—David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Douglas eventually got used to seeing himself as Franklin, especially during a scene where the French celebrity is feted at a gallery filled with paintings and statutes of his likeness.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
Textualism is primarily a way of interpreting statutes, and originalism is a way of interpreting the Constitution.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Trump has been charged with violating the statute, and the court's decision could impact whether that count and one other stand.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2024
And an amendment on data collection is mixed up in the bill reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the controversial statute that authorizes the National Security Agency, which expires later this month.
—Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 5 Apr. 2024
The Indianapolis Star, 18 Apr. 2024
The lawsuit asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order and to ultimately declare the statute unconstitutional.
—Anumita Kaur, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
The Supreme Court hears arguments today that challenge a statute used to prosecute hundreds of defendants charged with invading the Capitol on Jan. 6.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 16 Apr. 2024
The court’s conservatives have often taken a skeptical view of prosecutions that rely on a broad reading of a criminal statute.
—David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Douglas eventually got used to seeing himself as Franklin, especially during a scene where the French celebrity is feted at a gallery filled with paintings and statutes of his likeness.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
Textualism is primarily a way of interpreting statutes, and originalism is a way of interpreting the Constitution.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Trump has been charged with violating the statute, and the court's decision could impact whether that count and one other stand.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2024
And an amendment on data collection is mixed up in the bill reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the controversial statute that authorizes the National Security Agency, which expires later this month.
—Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'statute.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near statute
Cite this Entry
“Statute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/statute. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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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