senator
Americannoun
-
senators
plural
-
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
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
See Examples For:
People keep assigning him symbolic roles: first Muslim senator, Muslim socialist, proof of Democratic radicalism, proof of Muslim political progress.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
Come January, El-Sayed could be in the Senate, toiling away on behalf of Michiganders as the nation’s first Muslim senator — and Capitol Hill’s resident zaddy.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
Elected several times to the European Parliament, she served as European Consumer Protection Commissioner from 1994 to 1999 and was made a senator in Rome in 2008.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
The US senator spoke to BBC Newsnight about his concerns about artificial intelligence overtaking humanity.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
The senator frowned and looked worried, and I felt sorry for him.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
The committee rarely investigates senators and has not formally sanctioned a member in 19 years.
From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026
“But there’s a lot of cases where mayors turn out to be senators or governors.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026
The impersonation was targeted at her personal phone, not government phone, but recipients included US senators, governors and top business executives.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
Asked by senators whether the immunity remained in effect anyway, Blanche said yes; the ruling, he said, was under “review.”
From Slate ● Aug. 10, 2026
“These senators don’t seem to think it’s worth the risk,” she said.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
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.
