bicameral

adjective

bi·​cam·​er·​al (ˌ)bī-ˈkam-rəl 

-ˈka-mə-

government : having, consisting of, or based on two legislative chambers (see chamber entry 1 sense 4a)

a bicameral legislature comprised of the House of Representatives and the Senate

bicameralism

(ˌ)bī-ˈkam-rə-ˌli-zəm

-ˈka-mə- 

noun

Examples of bicameral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The bipartisan, bicameral CREATE AI Act would establish NAIRR in law. —Mackenzie Weinger, Axios, 11 Sep. 2024

In particular, the national charter provided for a powerful executive branch flanked by a bicameral legislature and a multilayered judiciary. —Sara Georgini, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Aug. 2024

Senator Charles Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) bipartisan and bicameral Endless Frontier Act, which would vastly increase federal R & D funding for critical technologies, is a promising first step; some of its $110 billion in new funding should be directed to Pentagon innovation. —Anja Manuel, Foreign Affairs, 29 July 2020

Following the July 4 elections, Labour now hold 411 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons, one half of the U.K.’s bicameral parliament. —Samantha Riedel, Them, 5 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

bi- entry 1 + Late Latin camera chamber — more at chamber

First Known Use

circa 1832, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bicameral

adjective

bi·​cam·​er·​al (ˈ)bī-ˈkam-(ə-)rəl 

: consisting of two legislative chambers

a bicameral legislature

Medical Definition

bicameral

adjective

bi·​cam·​er·​al (ˈ)bī-ˈkam-(ə-)rəl 

: having two chambers

Legal Definition

bicameral

adjective

bi·​cam·​er·​al ˌbī-ˈka-mə-rəl 

: having, consisting of, or based on two legislative chambers

a bicameral legislature

bicameralism

ˌbī-ˈka-mə-rə-ˌli-zəm 

noun

bicamerality

ˌbī-ˌka-mə-ˈra-lə-tē

noun