Statute
Etymology
From Latin statutum, "that which is set up or established," the past participle of statuere, "to set up, decide," itself from stare, "to stand." The literal sense is something firmly established. It came through Old French to mean a law deliberately laid down by an authority, distinguishing enacted law from custom or judge-made common law.
noun · /STATCH-oot/
A written law formally enacted by a legislature.
What it names
The kind of law that has a number and a name — passed by Congress or Parliament — as opposed to rules that emerge from court rulings.
Example
The prosecution collapsed once the defense showed the alleged conduct broke no statute at all.
Related idea
A precedent is law that accumulates through decided cases; a statute is law set down deliberately in advance by lawmakers.