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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On the other side of the country, the head of the Washington state DOT has requested $150 million from the state legislature to address the shortcomings of legacy highways. David Zipper, Vox, 13 Nov. 2024 The legislature approved the bill in late March and a few weeks later overrode a veto by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who said the bill advanced too quickly and that there should be a testing period before fully autonomous vehicles are allowed to drive in the state. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024 The cowboy code and citizen legislature feed into Wyoming's political reputation as a handshake-forward, small-town style, independently thinking state. Cy Neff, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024 In cases of divided government, the legislature and executive oversee one another, raising a public alarm at any sign of malfeasance. Jenna Bednar, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for legislature 

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 21 Nov. 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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