| ordinance | ordnance |
| Definition:
(1) A command or decree is an ordinance, whereas (2) munitions are ordnance. Note: The systematic arrangement of a literary work is called an ordonnance. |
| Example: A government could invoke an ordinance that bans ordnance. |
| Etymology: The word ordnance was coined by contracting the word ordinance. They both ultimately derive from the Latin ordinare, to put in order. |