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Synonyms

legislator

American  
[lej-is-ley-ter] / ˈlɛdʒ ɪsˌleɪ tər /

noun

  1. a person who gives or makes laws.

    Synonyms:
    lawgiver, lawmaker
  2. a member of a legislative body.


legislator British  
/ ˈlɛdʒɪsˌleɪtə /

noun

  1. a person concerned with the making or enactment of laws

  2. a member of a legislature

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of legislator

1595–1605; < Latin phrase lēgis lātor a law's bringer (i.e., proposer), equivalent to lēgis (genitive of lēx law) + lātor bringer ( ( tus ), suppletive past participle of ferre to bring + -tor -tor

Explanation

A legislator makes laws. Congress is full of legislators. You have several who represent you at both the state and national level. Don't confuse a legislator with the legislature. Whereas the latter refers to the group such as the Congress, a legislator is a member of the group. At the national level, senators and representatives are given the task of writing our laws. States sometimes have different names for their two legislative houses, but the set-up is similar. The United States may be the world's oldest democracy, but legislators have been around nearly forever — the Romans had them.

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Vocabulary lists containing legislator

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.

The full extent of his crimes was only revealed after relatives asked for the confiscation of Mao's phone, according to Legislator Lin Yueh-chin, who has been supporting the parents with their legal cases.

From BBC • Aug. 16, 2024

Niagara County Legislator William Collins Sr., a Republican, is charged in a warrant issued Monday with third-degree criminal mischief, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 2, 2023

I have a bill right now in the California State Legislator for a garment workers in California.

From Salon • Aug. 21, 2021

Legislator Junius Ho, who has taken a tough stand against the protests, has called for cleanups of 77 Lennon Walls from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, by 100 people at each site.

From Reuters • Sep. 20, 2019

A Legislator who has left his veracity lying on the door threshold, he, why verily he—ought to be sent out to seek it again!

From Past and Present by Carlyle, Thomas