legislature
LEHD-zhihs-luh-choor
Legislature (noun) means an official body of people, such as a parliament or congress, with the power to make, change, and repeal laws. Example: “Members of the legislature debated the new law for several hours before voting.”
noun
1
An official body of people, such as a parliament or congress, with the power to make, change, and repeal laws.
"The state legislature passed a new education bill."
"Members of the legislature debated the new law for several hours before voting."
"members of the legislature"
"The state legislature voted to raise the minimum wage."
"Bills must pass both chambers of the legislature before becoming law."
"Members of the legislature debated late into the night."
How to use legislature
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe group of elected people (like a parliament, congress, or state assembly) whose job is to make laws.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
state legislature
the legislature passed
members of the legislature
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Word forms
- Plural
- legislatures
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Members of the _____ debated the new law for several hours before voting.
Etymology
From the stem of Latin legislator plus -ure, matching French législature; first recorded in English in the 1670s.
Class of 1670
legislature joined the language around 1670.
See the full Class of 1670 →
Synonyms
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Rhymes for legislature
See all rhymes for legislature →Frequently asked questions
What does “legislature” mean?
The word “legislature” means an official body of people, such as a parliament or congress, with the power to make, change, and repeal laws. In plain terms, the group of elected people (like a parliament, congress, or state assembly) whose job is to make laws.
How do you pronounce “legislature”?
“Legislature” is pronounced LEHD-zhihs-luh-choor (/ˈlɛd͡ʒɪˌsleɪt͡ʃɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “legislature” in a sentence?
Here is “legislature” used in a sentence: “The state legislature voted to raise the minimum wage.”
What is another word for “legislature”?
Words with a similar meaning to “legislature” include legislative body.
What part of speech is “legislature”?
“Legislature” is a noun.
Where does the word “legislature” come from?
The word “legislature” dates back to around 1670 and comes from Latin. From the stem of Latin legislator plus -ure, matching French législature; first recorded in English in the 1670s.
Is “legislature” a common word?
“Legislature” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between a legislature and a parliament?
A legislature is any official body with the power to make, change, and repeal laws. "Parliament" and "congress" are specific names for such bodies in particular countries, so a parliament is one type of legislature.
What is the difference between a legislature and the executive?
The legislature is the branch of government that makes the laws, such as a parliament or congress. The executive is the branch that carries out and enforces those laws, such as a president, prime minister, and their departments.
Is "legislature" the same as "legislation"?
No. A "legislature" is the body of people who make laws, while "legislation" is the laws themselves or the process of making them. The legislature produces legislation.
What is the difference between a legislature and a legislator?
A "legislature" is the whole law-making body, such as a congress or parliament. A "legislator" is a single member of that body, one of the individual people who help make the laws.
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