How to say "ordinance" in Japanese

• 布告ふこくJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers the edict or proclamation sense: a formal public announcement of a law or decree by a ruler or government. It stresses the act of proclaiming rather than the rule itself.
  その国くには隣国りんごくに対たいし宣戦せんせんを布告ふこくした。↗

  The country declared war against its neighbor.
• 法令ほうれいCommon
  nounThe general legal term for laws and ordinances as enacted rules, covering statutes and acts collectively. Choose it when speaking of legislation in general rather than any single type of ordinance.
  その日ひは国会こっかいの法令ほうれいによって祝日しゅくじつになった。↗

  That day was made a holiday by an act of the diet.
• 条例じょうれいCommon
  nounThe word for ordinances enacted by local governments such as prefectures and municipalities; a bylaw. For an English 'city ordinance' this is the natural choice, as distinct from national law.
• 法度はっとCommon
  nounDenotes laws and ordinances of the middle ages. It is seldom the word you want for present-day ordinances; treat it as a historical term for medieval law.

Use 条例 for ordinances issued by local governments, 法令 for laws and ordinances as formal enactments generally, 布告 for a ruler's or government's public proclamation or edict, and 法度 only for medieval ordinances.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 布告ふこくedict
• 法令ほうれいstatute
• 章程しょうていlaw
• 条例じょうれい(local) regulation
• 法度はっとlaw