bicameral

American  

[bahy-kam-er-uhl] / baɪˈkæm ər əl /

adjective

Government.

1. having two branches, chambers, or houses, as a legislative body.

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bicameral British  

/ baɪˈkæmərəl /

adjective

1. (of a legislature) consisting of two chambers

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Other Word Forms

• bicameralism noun
• bicameralist noun

Etymology

Origin of bicameral

First recorded in 1825–35; bi- ¹ + Latin camer(a) “vault, arched roof” + -al ¹. See chamber

Compare meaning

How does bicameral compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• unicameral vs. bicameral

Explanation

If your committee has two distinct groups responsible for setting rules and developing policies, then you’re involved in a bicameral system, meaning that there are two separate branches making up the system. You’ve probably noticed the prefix bi- and know that it’s a tip-off that this word is likely going to describe something that has two parts. You’re right. The word bicameral originates from the Latin bi-, meaning "two," combined with camera, meaning "chamber." Chamber is just another way of referring to a legislative branch of a government or other official organization. You’re probably already familiar with one famous bicameral system: the U.S. Congress, which is made up of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Example Sentences

The bipartisan, bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China, where we serve as chair and ranking member, has worked to expose this threat.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

These include expanding parliament into a bicameral system, with a new 100‑seat upper house allocated according to each party's share of the national vote.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

But Mexico has a government system much like ours, with a president who’s head of the executive branch, a bicameral legislature, and an independent judiciary.

From Slate • Aug. 2, 2024

“I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan, bicameral and utterly fantastic bill,” said Representative Lloyd K. Smucker, Republican of Pennsylvania.

From New York Times • Dec. 13, 2023

The Assembly was a representative body organized on the bicameral plan into a "Council" and a "House of Representatives."

From History of the Constitutions of Iowa by Shambaugh, Benjamin F.