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Synonyms

parliamentary

American  
[pahr-luh-men-tuh-ree, -tree, pahrl-yuh-] / ˌpɑr ləˈmɛn tə ri, -tri, ˌpɑrl jə- /

adjective

  1. of or relating to a parliament or any of its members.

  2. enacted or established by a parliament.

  3. having a parliament.

  4. of the nature of a parliament.

  5. in accordance with the formal rules governing the methods of procedure, discussion, and debate in deliberative bodies and organized assemblies.

    parliamentary order.


parliamentary British  
/ -trɪ, ˌpɑːləˈmɛntərɪ /

adjective

  1. of or characteristic of a parliament or Parliament

  2. proceeding from a parliament or Parliament

    a parliamentary decree

  3. conforming to or derived from the procedures of a parliament or Parliament

    parliamentary conduct

  4. having a parliament or Parliament

  5. of or relating to Parliament or its supporters during the English Civil War

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of parliamentary

First recorded in 1610–20; parliament + -ary

Explanation

The adjective parliamentary refers to anything related to the formal rules, procedures, or discussions of a governing body that makes laws. The word parliamentary traces back to the French word parlement, meaning "talk" or "discussion." Many democratic countries, including Canada and France, have primary governing bodies called parliaments, groups of officials who deliberate and vote on laws. Anything related to a parliament can be referred to as parliamentary — e.g., parliamentary rules and procedures. The principal lawmaking body of the U.S. is not called a parliament, but the U.S. Congress also has parliamentary procedures — rules that govern decision-making and debate.

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Vocabulary lists containing parliamentary

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:

Counting in the parliamentary vote was also suspended.

From Barron's Aug. 14, 2026

Count Binface has previously stood in four parliamentary elections and two London mayoral elections.

From BBC Aug. 14, 2026

But parliamentary rules state all donations or gifts in the 12 months before an election need to be declared.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 13, 2026

Most of the candidates -- the highest number of any parliamentary election -- are standing as independents, and have led to a ballot paper which is nearly a metre long.

From Barron's Aug. 13, 2026

By the time he in third grade, though, he get to talking better than the President a the United States, coming home using words like conjugation and parliamentary.

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

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