legislate

[lej-is-leyt]

verb (used without object)

legislated, legislating 

1. to exercise the function of legislation; make or enact laws.

verb (used with object)

legislated, legislating 

1. to create, provide, or control by legislation.

   attempts to legislate morality.

legislate

/ ˈlɛdʒɪsˌleɪt /

verb

1. (intr) to make or pass laws

2. (tr) to bring into effect by legislation

Other Word Forms

• overlegislate verb
• quasi-legislated adjective
• unlegislated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of legislate¹

First recorded in 1710–20; back formation from legislation, legislator

Word History and Origins

Origin of legislate¹

C18: back formation from _legislator

Example Sentences

The MoJ said it will legislate to repeal the presumption of parental involvement when parliamentary time allows.

Read more on BBC

In the 1940s, Congress ringfenced insurance from federal antitrust laws, allowing states to legislate on prices.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This way, the changes in his status are kept in-house and there doesn't have to be the intervention of Parliament, which would have needed to legislate to take away his title as Duke of York.

Read more on BBC

But others ponder just how British it is to curb repeated protests - the plan Mahmood now plans to legislate for.

Read more on BBC

But the party says it would legislate to prevent courts having regard to it in asylum cases, with a pledge to leave if "activist judges attempt to override Parliament".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• enact