a person who is expert in the formal rules and procedures of deliberative assemblies and other formal organizations.
(sometimes initial capital letter) a member of Parliament.
(initial capital letter) a partisan of the British Parliament in opposition to Charles I.
an expert in parliamentary procedures, etc
(sometimes capital) a Member of Parliament
First recorded in 1605–15; parliament + -arian
A parliamentarian is someone who's very familiar with the rules of a legislative body, often because they're a member of it. In the U.S., a parliamentarian advises lawmakers on complex Senate and House rules. In the 17th century, parliamentarians opposed the monarchy during the English Civil War; in Britain today, a parliamentarian is simply a member of parliament, the U.K. government. United States parliamentarians, experts in the rules of the legislature, are appointed to the House and Senate by the majority party. Their job is to answer any procedural questions and offer nonpartisan advice. Parliamentarian is from parliament, "assembly," and its Latin root, meaning "to speak."
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Budget reconciliation is governed by strict rules, enforced by a strict parliamentarian, requiring that reconciliation items pertain to taxes and spending.
From Slate • Mar. 24, 2026
Mia Cooper, a parliamentarian for the district, brought her daughter to district meetings and state-level education forums as the girl grew up.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026
From plumber to parliamentarian, Hannah Spencer will arrive in the House of Commons as the Green Party's first ever Westminster by-election winner.
From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026
Right-wing parliamentarian Roman Giertych said he wasn’t aligned with Czarzasty politically, but said he would stand by him.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026
The meeting was held in secret, and the parliamentarian, who spoke perfect English, having been educated at Oxford, asked for anonymity, which he believed would enable him to better work behind the scenes.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
