(1) In France and England, the designation for royal edicts. They appeared in France in the 12th century, but until the mid-13th century were applied on the domains of feudal seigneurs only with the consent of the latter. In the 15th century, parliaments began to register ordinances, in order to invest them with the force of law. They were issued until the French Revolution and then again during the Restoration.

In England, beginning with the 13th century, ordinances were legal acts which, unlike the statutes issued by Parliament, contained royal edicts not requiring parliamentary approval. Their relation to the statutes was a subordinate, secondary one. In 1537 ordinances were made equal in juridical power to the statutes.

(2) In a number of foreign states, the designation for legal acts passed by higher legislative and executive bodies.