WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
or•don•nance
(ôr′dn əns; Fr. ôr dô näns′),USA pronunciation n., pl. -don•nanc•es
or ′don•nant,
adj.
-
(-dn ən siz; Fr. -dô näns′).USA pronunciation
- Architecturethe arrangement or disposition of parts, as of a building, picture, or literary work.
- an ordinance, decree, or law.
- French, alteration of Old French ordenance ordinance, by influence of donner to give
- 1635–45
adj.