(usually initial capital letter) the legislature of Great Britain, historically the assembly of the three estates, now composed of Lords Spiritual and Lords Temporal, forming together the House of Lords, and representatives of the counties, cities, boroughs, and universities, forming the House of Commons.
(usually initial capital letter) the legislature of certain British colonies and possessions.
a legislative body in any of various other countries.
French History. any of several high courts of justice in France before 1789.
a meeting or assembly for conference on public or national affairs.
Cards. fan-tan.
the highest legislative authority in Britain, consisting of the House of Commons, which exercises effective power, the House of Lords, and the sovereign
a similar legislature in another country
the two chambers of a Parliament
the lower chamber of a Parliament
any of the assemblies of such a body created by a general election and royal summons and dissolved before the next election
an assembly of the representatives of a political nation or people, often the supreme legislative authority
any legislative or deliberative assembly, conference, etc
Also: parlement. (in France before the Revolution) any of several high courts of justice in which royal decrees were registered
The number of nations governed by parliaments has greatly increased in modern times.
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English: “discourse, consultation, Parliament,” from Anglo-Latin parliamentum, alteration of Medieval Latin parlāmentum, from Old French parlement “a speaking, conference” ( see parle, -ment); replacing Middle English parlement, from Old French
In some countries — Great Britain for example — the group of people who make the laws is called the parliament. It's the equivalent of Congress in the United States. The most common meaning of parliament refers to a country's legislative (law-making) body. England's parliament is very famous. The word comes in part from the French verb parler, which means to speak, which makes sense since this group of people assemble to talk about laws and issues. Another meaning of parliament is the card game known as fan tan or sevens, where you lead with your sevens in a certain sequence and win by using up all your cards.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But the minority coalition failed to pass the measures in parliament, prompting Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to call the early vote on Monday.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
But their rejection in parliament last week prompted Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to call a snap election for November 29 in which housing will feature prominently.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
It fell short of a majority in Quebec's 127-seat parliament and won only 28 percent of the popular vote.
From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026
His new role is largely symbolic, but Rausch will now chair debates, have the power to control access to the parliament building and represent parliament at official events.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
At this point another member of the kyorremy, the upper chamber or parliament that Estraven heads, pushes and squeezes a way up close to him and begins talking to him.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
At the same time, the strictures imposed on the BND by Germany’s post-World War II constitution began to tighten under pressure from Parliament and the courts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
The European Parliament has a not particularly diplomatic art installation.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026
She can compile reports and command the attention of the defence secretary and Parliament regarding issues she feels need exposure.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
The Apple chairman met European Parliament President Roberta Metsola earlier on Tuesday as well as EU lawmakers focused on children's safety.
From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026
Verwoerd told Parliament that the judgment had not been in-fluenced by the telegrams of protest and representations that had come in from around the world.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
The Senedd, in common with the other parliaments in the UK, has no requirement for members to face a by-election if they leave the party they represented when they were elected.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
In 1780, remarkably, Richmond proposed annual parliaments and universal male suffrage, 138 years before the latter would be achieved.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
Popes rarely address parliaments, trying to avoid overt political interventions.
From Barron's ● Jun. 8, 2026
McConnell, who was first minister from 2001 until 2007, told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast he "would like to see the two parliaments coming together" to investigate the embezzlement.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026
The Haudenosaunee thus would have the second oldest continuously existing representative parliaments on earth.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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.
