Bundesrat
Americannoun
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the upper house of the federal legislature of Germany.
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the federal council of Switzerland and of Austria.
noun
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(in Germany and formerly in West Germany) the council of state ministers with certain legislative and administrative powers, representing the state governments at federal level
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(in Austria) an assembly with some legislative power that represents state interests at the federal level
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(in Switzerland) the executive council of the confederation
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(in the German empire from 1871–1918) the council representing the governments of the constituent states, with administrative, judicial, and legislative powers
Etymology
Origin of Bundesrat
1870–75; < German, equivalent to Bundes, genitive of Bund federation + Rat council
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.
Last week, Germany's Upper House, the Bundesrat, approved measures by Parliament to allow wolves to be hunted.
From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2026
The law still needs to pass Germany’s upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 7, 2022
"The scientific prognoses show us that the peak of the wave is in sight," Scholz said in a speech in the Bundesrat upper house.
From Reuters ● Feb. 11, 2022
If the upper house, or Bundesrat, approves Friday’s bill, workers in health care facilities will need to show they are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 by mid-March next year.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 10, 2021
Prussian plenipotentiary to the Bundesrat is the president of that assembly; he is appointed by the emperor, and bears the title Reichskanzler.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 7 "Geoponici" to "Germany" by Various
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.
