noun

parliamentarian

pah-lə-mən-TAIR-ee-ən

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Parliamentarian (noun) means a member of a parliament or a similar elected national legislature. Example: “She was elected as a parliamentarian for the first time last year.”

noun

A member of a parliament or a similar elected national legislature.

"She was elected as a parliamentarian for the first time last year."

"The visiting parliamentarians toured the chamber before the debate."

"Several parliamentarians spoke out against the new bill."

A person who is highly knowledgeable about the formal rules and procedures a legislature follows, sometimes serving as an official adviser on them.

"The committee asked the parliamentarian to rule on whether the motion was in order."

"He built a reputation as a skilled parliamentarian long before he held office."

"The Senate parliamentarian advised on whether the amendment followed the rules."

How to use parliamentarian

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA parliamentarian is either an elected lawmaker or an expert on how a legislature is run.

When to use it

It is a fairly formal word, mostly seen in political and government contexts.

Memory tip

The elected-member sense is used across Commonwealth countries, while the sense of a procedural-rules officer whose rulings are treated as authoritative is specifically American, as with the Senate parliamentarian.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

senior parliamentarian veteran parliamentarian the Senate parliamentarian

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “parliamentarian” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She was elected as a _____ for the first time last year.

Etymology

Parliamentarian is built from the word parliament plus the ending -arian, a suffix used to form words for people connected with something.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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MP member of parliament congressman deputy

Related words

acting agent assistant deputy lieutenant senator replacement alternate

Rhymes for parliamentarian

Asian radian Fabian Indian Syrian simian median Italian Russian Persian Serbian Latvian

See all rhymes for parliamentarian →

Frequently asked questions

What does parliamentarian mean?

It can mean an elected member of a parliament, or someone expert in the formal rules a legislature follows.

Is a parliamentarian the same as an MP?

In the sense of an elected member, yes; MP is simply short for member of parliament.

What does a parliamentarian do in the US Congress?

In the United States, a parliamentarian is typically an officer who advises a legislative body on its own procedural rules, and whose rulings are treated as authoritative.

What is the meaning of parliamentarian?

"parliamentarian" (noun) means a member of a parliament or a similar elected national legislature.

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