legislature

noun

leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈle-jə-ˌslā-chər How to pronounce legislature (audio)
 also  ˌle-jə-ˈslā-,
 British often  ˈle-jə-slə-chə
: a body of persons having the power to legislate
specifically : an organized body having the authority to make laws for a political unit

Examples of legislature in a Sentence

Our legislature passed a law requiring people to wear safety belts. Each state has its own legislature.
Recent Examples on the Web Legislation pressed by the Sikh Coalition also is pending in the California legislature to require CDCR to provide protective equipment based on employees’ individual needs and to grant greater protections for religious beliefs. Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024 In past years, gun rights took center stage in the Kentucky legislature. Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 25 Mar. 2024 One, proposed last month by the legislature’s chairman, DaRon McGee, would extend the current 3/8th-cent sales tax for 40 years to help pay for a new Royals ballpark in downtown Kansas City and finance the renovations that the Chiefs want done at Arrowhead Stadium. Allison Dikanovic, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024 More recently, Ohio has been bucking national trends for several cycles, electing Republicans to all six statewide offices and giving the party big majorities in both chambers of the legislature. Ron Elving, NPR, 23 Mar. 2024 One passed both houses of Florida’s legislature and is awaiting the governor’s signature. Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 Last summer, the Court ruled, 6–3, that the Constitution does not give state legislatures sole authority over election rules. David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2024 The panel would report its findings annually to the legislature and submit final recommendations by July 2027. Brandi Kellam, ProPublica, 14 Mar. 2024 Forever chemicals:Indiana bill cutting protections from toxic PFAS chemicals appears to die in committee Last year the general assembly passed a law with provisions that put the ultimate authority to restrict the use of certain pesticides in the hands of the legislature. Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'legislature.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of legislature was circa 1676

Dictionary Entries Near legislature

Cite this Entry

“Legislature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legislature. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

legislature

noun
leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈlej-ə-ˌslā-chər How to pronounce legislature (audio)
: an organized body of persons having the authority to make laws

Legal Definition

legislature

noun
leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈle-jəs-ˌlā-chər, -ˌchu̇r How to pronounce legislature (audio)
: a body of persons having the power to legislate
specifically : an organized body having the authority to make laws for a political unit (as a nation or state) compare executive, judiciary
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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