Ordinance can mean:

• A law made by a non-sovereign body such as a city council or a colony.
• In some countries, including India, France (ordonnance), Switzerland and Germany (Verordnung), a regulation adopted by the executive in a domain normally reserved for statute law after the authorization of parliament.
• A piece of internal regulation in a university
• That which is ordained or decreed by fate or a deity.
• An event of special significance in Baptist and other Congregational Christian churches, such as the Lord's Supper or Baptism
• An important ritual within Mormonism

It should not be confused with ordnance, which describes ammunition, explosive devices and similar items. See also Ordnance Survey (mapmakers); Master-General of the Ordnance.