parliamentary
Americanadjective
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of or relating to a parliament or any of its members.
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enacted or established by a parliament.
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having a parliament.
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of the nature of a parliament.
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in accordance with the formal rules governing the methods of procedure, discussion, and debate in deliberative bodies and organized assemblies.
parliamentary order.
adjective
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of or characteristic of a parliament or Parliament
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proceeding from a parliament or Parliament
a parliamentary decree
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conforming to or derived from the procedures of a parliament or Parliament
parliamentary conduct
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having a parliament or Parliament
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of or relating to Parliament or its supporters during the English Civil War
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of parliamentary
First recorded in 1610–20; parliament + -ary
Explanation
The adjective parliamentary refers to anything related to the formal rules, procedures, or discussions of a governing body that makes laws. The word parliamentary traces back to the French word parlement, meaning "talk" or "discussion." Many democratic countries, including Canada and France, have primary governing bodies called parliaments, groups of officials who deliberate and vote on laws. Anything related to a parliament can be referred to as parliamentary — e.g., parliamentary rules and procedures. The principal lawmaking body of the U.S. is not called a parliament, but the U.S. Congress also has parliamentary procedures — rules that govern decision-making and debate.
Vocabulary lists containing parliamentary
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.
"This stability was not capitalised upon," said Chiara Braga, the leader of the centre-left opposition Democratic Party's parliamentary group.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
It had seemed likely that would come in the form of a parliamentary statement on Tuesday from the justice secretary.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
That is one reason why the prime minister's aides are relishing the new parliamentary term, when news stories come along at a faster rate and so are less likely to linger in the headlines.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
Nearby, a news conference by the head of Pakistan's parliamentary health committee over the cause of the fire was interrupted by a distraught father clasping his palms together in a plea.
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
On March 8 the committee was prepared to submit its report, thereby assuring that the controversy would not go away or get buried in some parliamentary graveyard.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
