parliament
8 synonyms and 0 antonyms for parliament, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A country's elected law-making body, which debates issues, passes laws, and oversees government spending.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use parliament
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French parlement, "discussion, assembly," from parler, "to speak."
Full origin of parliament →Frequently asked questions
What does “parliament” mean?
The word “parliament” means a country's elected law-making body, which debates issues, passes laws, and oversees government spending. In plain terms, the group of elected officials who make a country's laws.
How do you pronounce “parliament”?
“Parliament” is pronounced PAH-luh-muhnt (/ˈpɑɹləmənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “parliament” in a sentence?
Here is “parliament” used in a sentence: “The bill was debated in parliament for weeks before it passed.”
What part of speech is “parliament”?
“Parliament” is a noun.
Where does the word “parliament” come from?
The word “parliament” comes from Old French. From Old French parlement, "discussion, assembly," from parler, "to speak.".
Is “parliament” a common word?
“Parliament” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “parliament” have?
“Parliament” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a country's elected law-making body, which debates issues, passes laws, and oversees government spending.
What is the difference between a parliament and a congress?
Both are elected law-making bodies, but they sit in different systems. In a parliamentary system the government is drawn from parliament and stays in power only while it holds parliament's confidence, led by a prime minister. In a congressional system, like the United States, congress is elected separately from the president, keeping the two branches distinct.
What is the difference between parliament and the government?
Parliament is the whole elected law-making body; the government is the smaller group of ministers, led by the prime minister, that actually runs the country. In most parliamentary systems the government is drawn from parliament and must answer to it, so parliament can question, challenge and even remove the government from office.
What are the two houses of parliament?
Many parliaments are bicameral, meaning they have two chambers: a lower house whose members are directly elected, and an upper house that reviews and revises legislation. In the United Kingdom these are the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Some countries instead have a unicameral parliament with a single chamber.
Why is parliament important?
Parliament gives citizens a voice in how they are governed. It debates the issues of the day, makes and changes the laws everyone must follow, approves taxation and public spending, and holds the government to account for its decisions. Without it, power would rest with the government alone, unchecked by elected representatives.