parliament

[ pahr-luh-muhntor, sometimes, pahrl-yuh- ]

noun

1. (usually initial capital letter) the legislature of Great Britain, historically the assembly of the three estates, now composed of Lords Spiritual and Lords Temporal, forming together the House of Lords, and representatives of the counties, cities, boroughs, and universities, forming the House of Commons.
2. (usually initial capital letter) the legislature of certain British colonies and possessions.
3. a legislative body in any of various other countries.
4. French History. any of several high courts of justice in France before 1789.
5. a meeting or assembly for conference on public or national affairs.
6. Cards. fan-tan ( def 1 ).

parliament

¹

/ ˈpɑːləmənt /

noun

1. an assembly of the representatives of a political nation or people, often the supreme legislative authority
2. any legislative or deliberative assembly, conference, etc
3. Alsoparlement (in France before the Revolution) any of several high courts of justice in which royal decrees were registered

Parliament

²

/ ˈpɑːləmənt /

noun

1. the highest legislative authority in Britain, consisting of the House of Commons, which exercises effective power, the House of Lords, and the sovereign
2. a similar legislature in another country
3. the two chambers of a Parliament
4. the lower chamber of a Parliament
5. any of the assemblies of such a body created by a general election and royal summons and dissolved before the next election

parliament

1. An assembly of representatives, usually of an entire nation, that makes laws. Parliaments began in the Middle Ages in struggles for power between kings and their people. Today, parliaments differ from other kinds of legislatures in one important way: some of the representatives in the parliament serve as government ministers , in charge of carrying out the laws that the parliament passes. Generally, a parliament is divided by political parties, and the representative who leads the strongest political party in the parliament becomes the nation's head of government . This leader is usually called the prime minister or premier . Typically, a different person — usually a king, queen, or president — is head of state , and this person's duties are usually more ceremonial than governmental.

Notes

The number of nations governed by parliaments has greatly increased in modern times.

Other Words From

• anti·parlia·ment adjective
• inter·parlia·ment adjective
• sub·parlia·ment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of parliament¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English: “discourse, consultation, Parliament,” from Anglo-Latin parliamentum, alteration of Medieval Latin parlāmentum, from Old French parlement “a speaking, conference” ( parle, -ment ); replacing Middle English parlement, from Old French

Word History and Origins

Origin of parliament¹

C13: from Anglo-Latin parliamentum, from Old French parlement, from parler to speak; see parley

Example Sentences

As well as losing power, the BDP went from holding 38 seats in the 69-strong parliament to almost being wiped out.

From BBC

After winning only four seats, the BDP is now one of the smallest parties in parliament, and faces an uphill battle to remain politically relevant.

From BBC

There was also a landslide defeat for the governing party in Mauritius in November, where the Alliance Lepep coalition, headed by Pravind Jagnauth of the Militant Socialist Movement, won only 27% of the vote and was reduced to just two seats in parliament.

From BBC

But it would be worse than every other Parliament for decades.

From BBC

Also in line with Labour’s manifesto, Starmer is expected to recommit to building 1.5 million net additional dwellings in England over the course of the Parliament.

From BBC

Related Words

• court