senator
Americannoun
-
Often Senator a member of a senate.
-
Senator, (in the United States) a title of respect accorded a person who is or has been a member of the Senate.
noun
-
(often capital) a member of a Senate or senate
-
any legislator or statesman
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of senator
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English senatour, from Anglo-French, from Latin senātor, equivalent to sen(ātus) “council of elders” + -ātor noun suffix; see senate, -ator
Explanation
A senator is a person who works in the government. In the United States, senators are elected by voters to represent them in a state or federal senate. Each state in the US elects two senators who serve six-year terms in Washington, DC, where they pass laws and vote on policies. Other countries have senators as well, either elected or appointed. The word senator has been used in English since around 1200, from the Latin word, senex, or "old man." This is especially appropriate when you know that men have far outnumbered women in the US senate and that the first female senator wasn't elected until 1932.
Vocabulary lists containing senator
Name On: Pro Sports Team Names, Part 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Civics I
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Ancient Rome - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Serena Guthrie has become a senator in Jersey at the first time of asking, after overnight results saw her finish fifth in the islandwide vote.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
Richard Briggs, a state senator from Tennessee, is also fighting to keep his seat.
From Salon • Jun. 8, 2026
Former President Barack Obama—and many Chicagoans—hope it becomes an engine for an economically challenged part of the city where he began his political career as a community organizer and state senator.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
As the senator later put it, “A Government cannot be republican in form which sanctions inequality of rights.”
From Slate • Jun. 3, 2026
Only a few days later, however, a similar package arrived at the Atlanta, Georgia, home of US senator Thomas W. Hardwick.
From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler
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.
