legislature
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of legislature
First recorded in 1670–80; legislat(or) + -ure
Explanation
A legislature is a governing body that makes laws and can also amend or repeal them. The word legislature comes from the Latin word for "law" — legis. In the US, each state has a legislature — made up of the elected state senators and assemblymen or women, or representatives. The US Congress is the national legislature. These bodies, whose members are often referred to as "law-makers," make up the legislative branch of government, as distinct from the executive and judicial branches.
Vocabulary lists containing legislature
U.S. Government Lingo
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Vocabulary from The Articles of Confederation
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The American Revolution - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
So the New York Legislature has allowed New York City to tax people with a second home in the city.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
Bass is a lifelong Democrat who served in the state Legislature — including as Assembly speaker — and a dozen years in Congress.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026
These judges first found that the Legislature had violated Section 2 of the VRA by diluting Black representation in 2022, after which Alabama went to the Supreme Court and lost in Allen v.
From Slate • May 26, 2026
Almost immediately, he garnered a slew of endorsements from his colleagues in the Legislature — many of whom had won their seats with financial support from Middleton.
From Salon • May 23, 2026
Anthony asked Elizabeth Cady Stanton to be the spokesperson for the effort and to address a joint session of the Judiciary Committee of the New York Legislature.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
