An ordinance is a local law created by a city or town government to manage community issues. Learn what ordinances cover, how they differ from laws, and how to find and change them. Ordinance Definition and Legal Meaning On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Ordinance, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used. What is Ordinance? A law passed by a municipal government of a city, town, village to establish rules and regulations affecting people or areas of a specific locality. Ordinance definition: an authoritative rule or law; a decree or command.. See examples of ORDINANCE used in a sentence. Ordinance vs. Ordnance Check: Ordinance contains the letter I, like the word illegal. If you disobey an ordinance, you are committing an illegal act. This extra letter is the key to remembering the meaning of the word ordinance. Summary Is it ordinance or ordnance? Ordinance and ordnance are homophones or near homophones at least.