Meaning & use
bylaw
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Meanings
nouncountableBritish
A rule made by a town, city or similar local authority that applies only within its own area.
Grammar: A countable noun; also spelled by-law. It is common in British and Canadian English for local rules.
Patterns
- a bylaw against something
- a bylaw on something
A new bylaw bans parking on the narrow lane during the market.
The council passed a bylaw limiting noise after ten at night.
Walking a dog without a leash breaks a local bylaw.
nounusually pluralAmericanbusiness
A rule that a club, company or association adopts to govern how its own members and meetings operate.
Grammar: In American English the plural bylaws is usual: the club's bylaws say who may vote.
Patterns
- under the bylaws
- amend the bylaws
According to the bylaws, a quorum requires ten members.
The board voted to amend the company's bylaws.
The tenants' association wrote its bylaws before holding its first election.
Word forms
| plural | bylaws |
|---|
Common combinations
- local bylaw
- A local bylaw forbids fires on the beach.
- pass a bylaw
- The town passed a bylaw to protect old trees.
- amend the bylaws
- Members voted to amend the bylaws at the annual meeting.
- breach a bylaw
- The shop was fined for breaching a bylaw on signs.
- noise bylaw
- Neighbors complained that the party broke the noise bylaw.
Synonyms and how they differ
- ordinance
- Ordinance is the usual American word for a local government rule, while bylaw covers local rules in British usage and also organizational rules.
- regulation
- Regulation is broader and can come from any authority, including national agencies, whereas a bylaw comes from a local body or organization.
- statute
- A statute is passed by a national or state legislature, so it carries more weight than a bylaw.
- rule
- Rule is the everyday word and need not be formally written down or adopted by a body.
Word family
Commonly confused: bylaw or byline? bylaw or statute?
bylaw vs byline
A byline is the line naming the author at the top of an article, not a rule.
bylaw vs statute
A statute is a law passed by a legislature, whereas a bylaw is made by a smaller local body or organization.
Practice
A neighbor complains that your bonfire is not allowed under a rule made by the town council. Which word fits?
Choose one answer.
A bylaw is a rule made by a local authority. A statute comes from a higher legislature, a treaty is between countries, and an amendment is a change to a text.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bylaw”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.