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.
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
any legislative or governing body considered to resemble a Senate
the main governing body at some colleges and universities
1175–1225; Middle English senat < Latin senātus council of elders, equivalent to sen ( ex ) old + -ātus -ate 3
When a government is split into two houses, or assemblies, one of them — the "upper house" — is called a senate. The main job of most senates is to take a second look at legislation after it's been passed by the lower house. The idea of a senate as a legislative assembly goes back to the founding of Rome, around 750 B.C.E., with the word taken from the Latin senatus, meaning "highest council." That word, then, is thought to come from senex, meaning "old man," in this case probably meant as a form of respect for wisdom. The word later grew to include national government, and the United States took the word in 1775 to refer to the upper level of the legislature. Today, you can get elected to a senate even if you're not an old man.
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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.
By contrast, the 74-year-old Cornyn served in the Senate Republican leadership from 2012-24 and is viewed as a party loyalist – albeit one more allied to the Republican establishment.
From BBC • May 20, 2026
The issue that ostensibly triggered the probe was an appearance in February by James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for Senate in Texas.
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
Under the Philippine constitution, an impeachment triggers a trial in the Senate, where a guilty verdict on any of the charges would see her removed and banned from elected office for life.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
The Fed said last week that Powell would remain as acting leader until Warsh, confirmed by the Senate last week to a four-year term, could be sworn in.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
From that post, he led the fight against creating a federal holiday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Helms was appointed chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1995.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
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.
