Dictionary.com

senate

[ sen-it ]
/ ˈsɛn ɪt /
See synonyms for senate on Thesaurus.com

noun

an assembly or council of citizens having the highest deliberative functions in a government, especially a legislative assembly of a state or nation.
(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.
the room or building in which such a group meets.
Roman History. the supreme council of state, the membership and functions of which varied at different periods.
a governing, advisory, or disciplinary body, as in certain universities.

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Origin of senate

1175–1225; Middle English senat<Latin senātus council of elders, equivalent to sen(ex) old + -ātus-ate3

Words nearby senate

sen, sena, senarius, senarmontite, senary, senate, Senate, United States, senator, senatorial, senatorial courtesy, senatorial district
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to senate

body, chamber, parliament, house, court, assembly, congress, diet, council, plenum, lawmakers, gathering, assemblage, society, committee, conference, union, convention, meeting, caucus

Example sentences from the Web for senate

British Dictionary definitions for senate (1 of 2)

senate
/ (ˈsɛnɪt) /

noun

any legislative or governing body considered to resemble a Senate
the main governing body at some colleges and universities

Word Origin for senate

C13: from Latin senātus council of the elders, from senex an old man

British Dictionary definitions for senate (2 of 2)

Senate
/ (ˈsɛnɪt) /

noun (sometimes not capital)

the upper chamber of the legislatures of the US, Canada, Australia, and many other countries
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
the ruling body of certain free cities in medieval and modern Europe
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