“Statutory” means something that is set, required, or controlled by a law passed by a government.

What does “statutory” mean?

In plain language, statutory refers to anything that exists because a law says so —not just by custom, agreement, or practice. It usually connects to written laws made by a parliament, congress, or similar legislative body.

Key points in simple terms

  • It is fixed by law : If something is statutory, it must be done or followed because the law requires it.
  • It comes from statutes : A “statute” is a formal written law; “statutory” things are created or governed by those statutes.
  • It is not just optional policy : A company rule might be internal, but a statutory rule is backed by law and can have legal consequences if ignored.

Everyday examples

  1. Statutory holidays
    These are public holidays that are officially set by law, and employers must follow the legal rules about pay and time off.
  1. Statutory requirements
    • Minimum wage set by law.
    • Safety regulations a business must comply with.
    • Official reporting rules for companies.
      All of these are statutory because the law explicitly requires them.
  1. Statutory rights
    Consumers, tenants, or employees often have “statutory rights” that are guaranteed by law, even if a contract tries to ignore them.

How it differs from “legal”

  • Legal : Allowed by law; not forbidden.
  • Statutory : Directly created, defined, or controlled by a specific law or statute.

So something can be legal without being statutory (for example, a private agreement that does not break any law), but statutory things are always tied to written laws.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.