# ordinance

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɔːdɪnəns/ · frequency rank #13,029

## Definitions
1. A local law, passed by e.g. a city.
2. An edict or decree, authoritative order.
3. An edict or decree, authoritative order.
4. An edict or decree, authoritative order.
5. An edict or decree, authoritative order.
6. A religious practice or ritual prescribed by a church.
7. Alternative form of ordnance (“military equipment, especially artillery”).

## Etymology
From Middle English ordinaunce (ca. 1300), from Old French ordenance (“decree, command”) (modern French ordonnance), from Medieval Latin ordinantia, from ordinans, the present participle of ordino (“put in order”) (whence ordain). Doublet of ordonnance.

## Easily confused with
- **ordnance** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ordinance-vs-ordnance)
- **ordinate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ordinance-vs-ordinate)
- **ordinances** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ordinance-vs-ordinances)

## Common misspellings (14)
`odrinance`, `orddinance`, `ordiannce`, `ordinacne`, `ordinancce`, `ordinanec`, `ordinannce`, `ordinence`, `ordinnace`, `ordinnance`, `ordniance`, `oridnance`, `orrdinance`, `rodinance`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ordinance