an assembly or council of citizens having the highest deliberative functions in a government, especially a legislative assembly of a state or nation.
(initial capital letter) the upper house of the legislature of certain countries, as the United States, France, Italy, Canada, Ireland, Republic of South Africa, Australia, and some Latin American countries.
the room or building in which such a group meets.
Roman History. the supreme council of state, the membership and functions of which varied at different periods.
a governing, advisory, or disciplinary body, as in certain universities.
the upper chamber of the legislatures of the US, Canada, Australia, and many other countries
the legislative council of ancient Rome. Originally the council of the kings, the Senate became the highest legislative, judicial, and religious authority in republican Rome
the ruling body of certain free cities in medieval and modern Europe
any legislative or governing body considered to resemble a Senate
the main governing body at some colleges and universities
1175–1225; Middle English senat < Latin senātus council of elders, equivalent to sen ( ex ) old + -ātus -ate 3
When a government is split into two houses, or assemblies, one of them — the "upper house" — is called a senate. The main job of most senates is to take a second look at legislation after it's been passed by the lower house. The idea of a senate as a legislative assembly goes back to the founding of Rome, around 750 B.C.E., with the word taken from the Latin senatus, meaning "highest council." That word, then, is thought to come from senex, meaning "old man," in this case probably meant as a form of respect for wisdom. The word later grew to include national government, and the United States took the word in 1775 to refer to the upper level of the legislature. Today, you can get elected to a senate even if you're not an old man.
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By contrast, the 74-year-old Cornyn served in the Senate Republican leadership from 2012-24 and is viewed as a party loyalist – albeit one more allied to the Republican establishment.
From BBC • May 20, 2026
The fund drew the immediate ire of lawmakers on Capitol Hill, who clashed with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche during an appearance before a Senate panel on Tuesday.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
The world’s largest cryptocurrency jumped as high as $81,900 last week after the Senate Banking Committee approved a long-sought bill on how digital assets are regulated.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
Last week, the Senate voted 54-45 to confirm Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Fed chair.
From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026
When he arrived in Rome the Senate elected him emperor out of fear, and put Julian to death.
From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli
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.
