Synonyms

statute book

American

noun

a book containing the laws enacted by the legislature of a state or nation.

statute book British

noun

a register of enactments passed by the legislative body of a state, usually made up of a series of volumes that form a complete official record

not on the statute book

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of statute book

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A similar bill was introduced during the last parliament, but it failed to make it onto the statute book before the general election.

From BBC

Following Whiting's conviction, Mr Underhill said a "source of pride" for him was helping launch Child Rescue Alert and for seeing Sarah's Law on the statute books.

From BBC

“Everyone wants to be tough on crime. You wind up with statute books that are full of crimes, many of which don’t get prosecuted.”

From BBC

But India remains among the three dozen countries - along with Pakistan, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia - where the law remains on the statute books.

From BBC

The campaigns have also experienced many highs and lows – getting close to the statute books, and then being de-prioritised, in what must have felt like a legislative edition of snakes and ladders.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023