legislature

noun

leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈle-jə-ˌslā-chər 

 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

State legislatures should retain their authority to redraw congressional districts that align with the Voting Rights Act, Maryland’s attorney general and his counterparts in other states wrote in arguments submitted Friday to the U.S. Supreme Court. —Sam Janesch, Baltimore Sun, 28 Dec. 2024

Some legislatures have added agent clauses to state laws. —Bret Baier, Fox News, 24 Dec. 2024

Virginia Democrats say the races are essential to fortifying the Democratic firewall in state legislatures across the country in response to the federal Republican trifecta in Washington. —Julia Manchester, The Hill, 24 Dec. 2024

Parliament approved the new administration in a 240-143 vote in Romania’s 466-seat legislature. —Stephen McGrath and Vadim Ghirda, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

legislature

noun

leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈlej-ə-ˌslā-chər 

: an organized body of persons having the authority to make laws

Legal Definition

legislature

noun

leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈle-jəs-ˌlā-chər, -ˌchu̇r 

: 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