senate
noun
an assembly or council of citizens having the highest deliberative functions in a government, especially a legislative assembly of a state or nation.
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senate
American
[sen-it]
/ ˈsɛn ɪt /
noun
-
senates
plural
-
an assembly or council of citizens having the highest deliberative functions in a government, especially a legislative assembly of a state or nation.
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(initial capital letter) the upper house of the legislature of certain countries, as the United States, France, Italy, Canada, Ireland, Republic of South Africa, Australia, and some Latin American countries.
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the room or building in which such a group meets.
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Roman History. the supreme council of state, the membership and functions of which varied at different periods.
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a governing, advisory, or disciplinary body, as in certain universities.
Senate
1
British
/ ˈsɛnɪt /
noun
-
the upper chamber of the legislatures of the US, Canada, Australia, and many other countries
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the legislative council of ancient Rome. Originally the council of the kings, the Senate became the highest legislative, judicial, and religious authority in republican Rome
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the ruling body of certain free cities in medieval and modern Europe
senate
2
British
/ ˈsɛnɪt /
noun
-
any legislative or governing body considered to resemble a Senate
-
the main governing body at some colleges and universities
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of senate
1175–1225; Middle English senat < Latin senātus council of elders, equivalent to sen ( ex ) old + -ātus -ate 3
Explanation
When a government is split into two houses, or assemblies, one of them — the "upper house" — is called a senate. The main job of most senates is to take a second look at legislation after it's been passed by the lower house. The idea of a senate as a legislative assembly goes back to the founding of Rome, around 750 B.C.E., with the word taken from the Latin senatus, meaning "highest council." That word, then, is thought to come from senex, meaning "old man," in this case probably meant as a form of respect for wisdom. The word later grew to include national government, and the United States took the word in 1775 to refer to the upper level of the legislature. Today, you can get elected to a senate even if you're not an old man.
Vocabulary lists containing senate
Ancient Rome - Introductory
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Canada - Middle School and High School
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South Asia - Introductory
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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.
See Examples For:
Chemistry professor Brian Crane, who opposed the resolution, said he attended senate meetings on the topic and concluded that declaring “no-confidence” wouldn’t meaningfully address the problems facing Cornell—especially with Yates’ review just beginning.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
Incumbent Sara Hernandez is stepping down and running for state senate.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2026
Steele-John, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, was first elected to the senate in Western Australia in November 2017.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
The blonde executive assistant to the president was then mentioned by a Democratic senate hopeful, in comments that set the internet alight -- and incensed the White House.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
At lunch, Reyna had handed him a scroll of introduction from the praetor and camp senate.
From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan
In his Senate office, his spacesuit is on proud display.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 14, 2026
Most Senate floor time will be devoted to this.
From Slate ● Nov. 14, 2026
The thorny issue even found its way into Alaska's recent Senate election.
From Barron's ● Nov. 14, 2026
He has been called to testify before the Senate Banking Committee next month over the Commerce Department's role in allowing Nvidia to export its advanced chips.
From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2026
On June 4, 1919, with little debate, the Senate passed the amendment by a vote of 56 to 25, two more votes than necessary.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
Since news of the deal broke, he said he has met with the system chancellors, provosts, program directors and faculty senates about the acquisition.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 31, 2023
But the school’s faculty and student senates each passed resolutions calling for a change and the university’s alumni board of directors supported reassessing the team name’s appropriateness.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 10, 2021
State senates range in size from twenty members in Alaska to sixty-seven members in Minnesota.
From Textbooks ● Jul. 28, 2021
The animosity has spread to the 50 statehouses and the 7,382 people who serve in the houses and senates there.
From Salon ● Jun. 24, 2012
Its members, ninety-two in number, are appointed by the Emperor for life, on nomination of the Bundesrath, and they are organized in six civil and four criminal senates.
From The Governments of Europe by Frederic Austin Ogg
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