legislature

[ lej-is-ley-cher ]

/ ˈlɛdʒ ɪsˌleɪ tʃər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR legislature ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a deliberative body of persons, usually elective, who are empowered to make, change, or repeal the laws of a country or state; the branch of government having the power to make laws, as distinguished from the executive and judicial branches of government.

Nearby words

legislative council, legislative veto, legislator, legislatorial, legislatrix, legislature, legist, legit, legitim, legitimacy, legitimate

Origin of legislature

First recorded in 1670–80; legislat(or) + -ure

Related formssub·leg·is·la·ture, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for legislature

Two years ago in Michigan, she oversaw AFP operations to help the Republican-controlled legislature pass sweeping anti-union laws.
The Next Phase of the Koch Brothers’ War on Unions|Carl Deal and Tia Lessin|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I think he would have been happy with a Democratic legislature.
Could This Be the First Pro-Choice Republican on a National Ticket?|David Freedlander|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The politics look potentially most amenable in Pennsylvania, and even there a GOP legislature has to go along.
Will GOP Govs Really Rescue Obamacare?|Michael Tomasky|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nearly 900,000 with subsidized insurance, but a GOP governor and very GOP legislature.
Will GOP Govs Really Rescue Obamacare?|Michael Tomasky|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But the Republicans control both houses of the legislature and just expanded their majorities.
Will GOP Govs Really Rescue Obamacare?|Michael Tomasky|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The legislature of Georgia repudiated these bonds in 1872, which would have been unnecessary if they had been cancelled.
The Reconstruction of Georgia|Edwin C. Woolley
If they do not obey the commands of the Legislature, the Legislature will say we stop the supplies.
India for Indians|C. R. (Chittaranjan) Das
It was three days before the great fight in the Legislature began which ended in his defeat.
Jennie Gerhardt|Theodore Dreiser
The constitution had, as a matter of fact, been drawn up by Talleyrand, and sent to the Legislature at Milan some months before.
History of Modern Europe 1972-1878|C. A. Fyffe
And the reason is to be found in the separation of the executive from the legislature.
A History of the United States|Cecil Chesterton

British Dictionary definitions for legislature

legislature

/ (ˈlɛdʒɪsˌleɪtʃə) /

noun

a body of persons vested with power to make, amend, and repeal lawsCompare executive, judiciary

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for legislature

legislature

1670s; see legislator + -ure.

legislature

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of legislature

Examples from the Web for legislature

British Dictionary definitions for legislature

legislature

noun

Word Origin and History for legislature

legislature